Claudia Winkleman sends email asking BBC staff facing redundancy to film dance video
Claudia Winkleman ‘sent round-robin email asking BBC staff facing redundancy to film selfie dance video’… the day after her £369,000 pay packet was revealed
- Claudia Winkleman emailed BBC staff asking them to film a dance video
- Email asking people to join ‘Dancing with our staff’ routine was sent to workers facing redundancy
- BBC accounts published yesterday showed Strictly host earns £369,999 salary
The BBC is facing a backlash after an email sent by £369,999-a-year Claudia Winkelman to workers facing redundancy asked them to film a dancing video.
The email, which was reportedly sent by the Strictly Come Dancing host, asked colleagues to take part in the ‘Dancing with our staff’ promotional video.
But it is understood to have ruffled feathers at the corporation after being sent to staff who are facing job uncertainty and redundancies.
Yesterday, BBC accounts revealed Winkleman has become one of the highest paid female presenters at the corporation, earning between £365,000-£369,999 in the past year.
The email, which was reportedly sent by the Strictly Come Dancing host (pictured here in 2018), asked colleagues to take part in the ‘Dancing with our staff’ promotional video
The Guardian’s Jim Waterson said there was a ‘mixed reaction’ surrounding the email.
Several BBC staff responded to Mr Waterson, including Newsnight producer Sam McAlister who replied, ‘Mixed’ with a laughing emoji.
A BBC Scotland producer also responded with a laughing emoji.
The video, which was filmed using the music of Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ song, appears to have been taken down from the BBC website.
Yesterday, the BBC came under fire after it published accounts showing that staff pay had soared 3.5 per cent to £1.5billion this year – while the Corporation pushes ahead with its plans to strip a million over-75s of their free TV licences.
Yesterday, the BBC came under fire after it published accounts showing that staff pay had soared 3.5 per cent to £1.5billion this year
Accounts published at noon showed that Zoe Ball is now the BBC’s highest earner after pocketing a £1million pay rise – knocking Gary Lineker off the top spot.
In July, the BBC invited staff to apply for voluntary redundancy in an attempt to save £125 million in savings this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The corporation asked public service staff to express interest in a voluntary redundancy.
The broadcaster also plans to cut around 450 jobs in BBC News.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
