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BBC to trim massive pay deals for big stars

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Monday Nov 3 2008

The BBC is to trim the massive pay deals it uses to attract top stars after the storm caused by the antics of Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand.

Mark Thompson, the director general, warned that economies were planned at all levels of the corporation -- including the budget for big-name celebrities.

The BBC faced anger two years ago when it made Ross (pictured) its top-paid star on a three-year contract worth £18m (€22.7m). He has been suspended without pay for 12 weeks for his part in leaving a series of crude messages on the answering machine of actor Andrew Sachs.

Mr Thompson said yesterday: "I think we are heading towards a period where it is probably the case that we will be able to secure the best entertainment talent for less." He was speaking after the resignations of Brand and Lesley Douglas, the controller of Radio 2.