Jonathan Ross defends BBC salary: 'I was offered a better deal elsewhere'
Published Aug 31 2011, 19:41 BST | By Paul Millar
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Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Richard Bacon, the 50-year-old presenter claimed that he had "turned down millions" to stay with the corporation instead of signing for another network.
Ross had been on a three-year contract with the BBC reportedly worth £18m for hosting Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Film and his Radio 2 show.
"Sure I was paid a lot of money, but I'm not in a regular job. I'm in show business and I was at the top of my game," he said.
"When the money became such a big story in the papers, I didn't enjoy the scrutiny. I didn't think it was fair because I turned down a much bigger offer to go outside than stay at the BBC.
"So I felt odd I was painted as this greedy guy when in actual fact, I turned down millions to stay there."
Ross, who left the BBC for ITV last year, begins his new programme The Jonathan Ross Show this Saturday at 9.30pm on ITV1.
Watch a trailer for The Jonathan Ross Show below:
If that's what BBC/ITV are willing to pay for his services then who is he to question it? I certainly wouldn't say no if my boss turned around to me tomorrow and said I was on a new salary worth £6m a year. Can anyone seriously say that they would? Anybody who thinks he's being greedy is just jealous!
September 10th 2011 at 12:29am
No ****, wish I could get paid to sit on my **** talking once a week x
September 9th 2011 at 12:34pm
yer lol just makes me angry when fat lazy ***** like him get paid off it for doing **** all
September 9th 2011 at 9:29am
Have you actually got a tv license Damo :P x
September 3rd 2011 at 5:53pm
I like jonathan ross - but I'm getting mighty fed up with him trying to justify his obscene salary -
my next door neighbour works as a neo nate nurse saving the life of premature babies. she earns £31k a year after 22 years doing the job. so that means ross (on his £6 million) is worth 190 times what a neo nate nurse is worth.
cobblers....
ross is just another so, so tv presenter, there are dozens of them out there and if you tell me that no one can do that job for less than £6 million a year then I think you are deluded. and of course we all know how mega pay packets get the best - just look at what a success daybreak has been.
September 1st 2011 at 9:35pm