BBC publishes list of stars who topped up their salaries by hosting Zoom calls and events for private companies

The BBC has published a new register revealing which on-air company personalities receive earnings from external events.

The register was announced last year as part of BBC measures to ensure the corporation retains impartiality, and reveals some high-profile figures to be earning more than £5,000 for external events.

Among those on the list are BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker, Today Programme’s Justin Webb, Andrew Marr and Emily Maitlis.

The register covers the first three months of 2021 and reveals personalities including Walker and Webb to have received more than £5,000 for appearances at non-BBC events.

The register requires any on-air talent across radio, news and current affairs to declare their earnings from work undertaken externally from the BBC.

This includes invitations to speak at events or other kinds of corporate events.

Those who do undertake such external work are named alongside information about whether the fee was over or under £5,000 and which organisation they undertook the work for.

Senior leaders at the BBC are also now required to declare external engagements and seek written approval from a head of department before confirming the work.

The number of paid events undertaken by staff has increased month-on-month since January.

The BBC said that around 85% of the appearances fell below £5,000, with half of these under £1,000.

Recently the corporation has faced criticisms for staff presenters including Naga Munchetty and North America editor Jon Sopel taking on paid work externally.

Alongside the new rules on the register, the BBC has also introduced fresh rules on the use of social media by its employees, which alongside new training, aim to “ensure the highest possible standards of impartiality across the organisation”.

The rules tell staff working in news, current affairs and factual journalism production, such as Countryfile, The One Show and Woman’s Hour, and as well as all senior leaders, that they may not reveal how they have voted or express support for any political party.

Additional reporting by PA.