The BBC still pays over 90 of its managers more than the prime minister’s salary, despite claims it has reined in executive pay.
The most up to date BBC salary records available show that 91 managers on its books receive a greater sum than David Cameron’s annual pay of £149,440.
Six of the BBC bigwigs are paid more than double Cameron’s salary and 30 take home over £200,000.
The total figure of 91 does not include the multi-million pound salaries of BBC stars like Chris Evans and Graham Norton, whose publicly-funded earnings are still kept secret.
There is now a move for these to be disclosed.
Analysis of available records by Heat Street shows that in December 2014, the BBC paid exactly the same number of senior staff – 91 – more than the David Cameron.
However, at that time Cameron’s salary was only £142,500 – blowing a hole in claims by BBC chief Tony Hall that he has reined in executive pay.
Among the current 91 is Adrian Van Klaveren, whose salary as “Head of Strategic Change And Management” is £193,150.
In this role, Van Klaveren is responsible for leading the BBC’s coverage and activities for the 100th anniversary of World War One.
Another on the list is Damian Kavanagh, the Controller of online-only channel BBC3. He is paid £213,400.
By contrast Cassian Harrison, Kavanagh’s counterpart at BBC4, is paid £160,000 – £50,000 less than Kavanagh despite the fact he runs what BBC insiders describe as a “real TV channel” rather than an online service.
Alan Yentob is also included in our list on the basis that he remains on the BBC payroll in the senior post of executive producer of BBC1 series Imagine.
Yentob, who also presents Imagine, is understood to be paid at least £150,000 a year plus expenses, though the BBC refuses to confirm this.
Until December 2015, Yentob was also BBC Creative Director and earned a total of about £330,000. He has a BBC pension pot worth an estimated £4 million.
He quit his executive post after being warned he was facing a BBC investigation for his role in the Kids’ Company scandal.
Helen Boaden, head of BBC radio, is paid £352,900.
The highest earner is BBC chief Tony Hall, whose pay is £450,000.
Hall’s salary is almost half what his predecessor-but-one, Mark Thompson, was paid.
Thompson, who ran the BBC between 2004 and 2012, at one stage negotiated himself a deal worth £834,000 per year.
A BBC spokesman said: “Overall we’ve cut the number of senior managers and their paybill by a third, but of course some people’s pay has increased as they’ve either had the same 2.5% increase as every employee had last year or they’ve taken on a bigger role or responsibilities.’’