Chris Evans asks his mum for advice as he defends pay amid BBC salary storm

The presenter said he turned to the 91-year-old as she is “very wise”
Chris Evans leaves a central London office after presenting his Radio 2 Breakfast show on the morning his pay packet was revealed
Getty Images
Emma Powell20 July 2017
The Weekender

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Chris Evans has defended his BBC pay cheque after turning to his mother for advice in the wake of the news that he is the broadcaster’s highest earner.

It was revealed that Evans was paid between £2.2 million and £2,249,999 during 2016/17 for his work at the BBC, which included Top Gear and Radio 2.

The salary was four times that of the highest-earning woman, Claudia Winkleman, who took home £450,000 to £499,999 for her work on Strictly Come Dancing and radio.

Evans said he called his 91-year-old mother, Minnie Beardsall, to ask for her advice on how to deal with the fall-out from the revelation, as she is “very wise”.

Tricky: Chris Evans turned to his mother to help deal with the scrutiny over his BBC salary
Jeremy Selwyn

Speaking on his Radio 2 Breakfast Show he asked listeners how they would respond if questioned on whether or not they are ashamed of what they earn.

He said: “So here's what I did. I called my mum. She's 91, she's very wise, she was in the war, and I asked her what she thought.

“She said: ‘Hang on a minute, love, let me just turn the telly down’, she was watching Columbo on catch-up at the time, as she often is.

Female pay: Claudia Winkleman earns four times less than Chris Evans
Dave Benett

He continued: “She came back on the phone and said: ‘Tell them that your mum, who's a nurse for most of her life, always told you after your dad died to try to find a job you loved, just like I love nursing, and earn what you can, when you can, while you can – which you did almost straight away from when you were a paper boy earning £1.50 a week for freezing your bits off and falling off your bike every two minutes, right through until what you're doing now. And tell them: if your bosses don't think you're worth it one day, they'll sort that out soon enough’.

“So there you are I’m going with what my mum said. I had to say that this morning and I think it’s only right and proper that I said that. I thank my mum for her advice – I live by her word and I will die by her word.”

Evans’ comments came hours after John Humphrys, the BBC’s highest paid news presenter, said he is unable to explain his £600,000 salary.

He told BBC Newsnight: “I’m not sure I could explain it, to be absolutely honest.

“But I suppose I would say I have been with the BBC for a very long time, as in 50 years. I’ve been with the Today programme for 30 years.”

The presenter, who also hosts the BBC 2 quiz show Mastermind, said he has never asked for more money.

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