BBC cleared of paying stars too much

The BBC does not pay above the market price for big-name stars, an official investigation has found.

However, BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said the corporation "has to be prepared to walk away from deals that do not offer good value to the audience".

The Trust commissioned an independent investigation after controversy around the salaries of stars such as Jonathan Ross and Chris Moyles.

Research found talent fees had been driven up by demand for big names across the market. "The commercial pressures facing UK broadcasters in recent years have led to a greater reliance on bankable stars and proven formats, hence a greater demand for a small supply of top talent," said the Trust.

Sir Michael said: "The report shows the BBC is not negatively distorting the UK's market for talent on television and that overall it is achieving deals which represent value for money."

The chairman said he hoped licence fee payers would be reassured by the results of the investigation. "I do understand that many people will continue to question the salaries paid to some BBC performers," he said. "These high payments can be particularly difficult to accept when wages elsewhere (including in other parts of the BBC) are under pressure."

Several recommendations were made to BBC management, however. Executives should take more account of their bargaining power "in respect of levels of exposure that talent can receive and the ability to work across genres".

They should also pay more attention to factors other than the number of viewers attracted by stars. These include "the relative value to BBC audiences of particular talent, their 'incremental value' above alternatives and how far a particular talent can contribute to fulfilling the BBC’s strategic purpose plans".