GMTV 'to cut presenter pay by a quarter'

GMTV is reportedly planning to reduce the salaries of its top presenters by up to 25%.

The breakfast broadcaster is said to be following the example of the BBC and will cut the wages of Kate Garraway, Lorraine Kelly, Ben Shephard, Andrew Castle and Penny Smith.

According to the Daily Mail, presenters working for the ITV and Disney-owned company will also have their holiday entitlement reduced by up to 50%.

An insider said: "They used to have much longer holidays. Some of them used to have something like 12 weeks off. I think now they are going down to six or seven.

"GMTV is saving money all over the place. In this climate the presenters will all be nuts not to accept what they have been offered."

Another added: "The presenters at GMTV have all now been told that they are facing pay cuts."

It was recently reported that Apprentice runner-up Kate Walsh had successfully screen-tested for a slot on the programme, while Fiona Phillips has admitted to struggling to find work since she left the show.