BBC to investigate ‘missing’ Myrie payments on register of earnings

The BBC is investigating Clive Myrie’s “moonlighting” payments after they were not logged in the presenter’s register of earnings.

The corporation records external payments made to staff in a regular log, but it has been claimed that cash paid to Myrie for several events has not been included.

The BBC has said it will review the issue and properly record further payments to Myrie, in addition to his £310,000 salary.

It is common practice among leading BBC presenters to earn extra money by speaking at corporate events.

Myrie’s £5,000 to £10,000 gig hosting an Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association lunch in March had been omitted, The Sunday Times has reported. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on his part.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: “There appears to have been some administrative errors in relation to entries on the register. These will be reviewed and, where necessary, the register will be updated.”

Leading figure

Myrie is among the highest-paid presenters at the BBC, and has become a leading figure, heading much of the News at Ten’s coverage.

The journalist ranks at the top of the list of BBC staff in terms of outside earnings, according to a recent study by the Press Gazette, earning around £66,000 in the 12 months before June 2024.

This places him ahead of other high-earners, including Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson.

Following the departure of disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards from the News at Ten, the presenting role for the BBC’s flagship evening bulletin has been filled on rotation by Reeta Chakrabarti, Sophie Raworth and Myrie.

The permanent replacement for Edwards has been a subject of speculation, and bookmakers have often favored Myrie’s chances of taking the role permanently

The presenter, among the BBC’s highest paid on between £310,000 and £314,999, previously said that he was “incredibly pleased with what I’ve got”.

Myrie has been contacted for comment.