Ross and Wogan escape pay cuts

THE salaries of BBC stars will not be hit by the company pay freeze and the axing of bonuses, the corporation confirmed today.

Jonathan Ross, who earns £6million a year, Chris Moyles who is paid £630,000 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Terry Wogan, who has an annual pay packet of £800,000 a year, are among 20,000 employees who will avoid the cuts, aimed at saving the BBC £20million.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said today: "Our talent sign a contract at the BBC and that doesn't fluctuate through their period of working."

The BBC announced yesterday that 400 senior executives would be among those affected by the pay freeze which will also see bonuses scrapped "until further notice". Traditionally, senior BBC managers qualify for a bonus worth 10 per cent of their salary if they meet their targets.

The BBC's executive management board - including director-general Mark Thompson - have already forgone their bonuses for this year.