Journalist Carrie Gracie says she doesn't trust her BBC bosses and believes they lied to her about why men get paid more following her resignation from the broadcaster.

In an interview that was aired on Channel 4 News tonight, the former China editor revealed her bosses have not contacted her since the story broke.

The 55-year-old, who has worked at the BBC for 30 years, said she doesn't trust the corporation and doesn't buy their excuses about the gender pay gap.

In an interview that was aired on Channel 4 News tonight at 7pm, the former China editor Carrie Gracie revealed her bosses had not contacted her since the story broke

The 55-year-old told presenter Cathy Newman she no longer trusts her bosses and believes they lied to her about why her male colleagues were paid more

She said: 'What I can tell you is that I no longer trust my bosses to give me an accurate answer.

'I suspect the reason why they don't come up with any answers on that is because there is no good answer that would actually stand up at tribunal.

'I've trusted my bosses for years that's, why I'm here, because I trusted my bosses and I now discover that they weren't paying me equally. Why would I trust them now?

'The BBC say that the reason for the pay gap between me and my male counterparts is because of genuine material factors that make their jobs worth more than mine.'

In June last year, BBC executive James Purnell admitted the Corporation's male talents may have to take a pay cut.

The veteran journalist outside the BBC Broadcasting House in London today

The director of radio and education made the revelation during an interview with Newsnight's Kirsty Wark.

And the corporation has now been plunged into a huge and damaging row over women's pay, a the 55-year-old quit her post due to its 'illegal and secretive' pay culture.

Miss Gracie, 55, who was paid £135,000 a year, resigned from her job as China Editor with a scathing 1,400-word open letter on her blog declaring 'enough is enough' and accusing the corporation of widespread pay discrimination.

She revealed she turned down a £45,000 pay rise from her BBC bosses, insisting 'its not about more money - it's about equality'.

In her interview on Channel 4 she said: 'I don't want more money. The money is a problem.

'For me the money is not the issue. The issue is the equality. The money gets in the way. I'm very happy to be equal at my current salary or even a lower salary in the context of a restructuring of BBC pay which attempts to create greater fairness for people on down the scale. I don't have a problem with being flexible about pay.'

A number of MPs voiced their support for Gracie, including Labour's Harriet Harman, Jess Phillips and Barbara Keeley and Conservative Nadine Dorries.

Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), said it was 'determined to hold the BBC to account'.

Theresa May's official spokesman said the Prime Minister 'has been very clear that tackling injustices like the gender pay gap is part of her determination to build a country that works for everyone'.

Miss Gracie is still waiting to hear the outcome of a grievance complaint, which she lodged last year, and said she could not return to work in China without a resolution.

On why she's lost trust for her old bosses, Miss Gracie said: 'I've trusted my bosses for years that's, why I'm here, because I trusted my bosses and I now discover that they weren't paying me equally. Why would I trust them now?'

She told Radio 4 show Woman's Hour earlier today: 'In October the BBC made me a pay offer. My pay is £135,000 and they offered to raise that to £180,000.

'However, I wasn't interested in more money - I was interested in equality. I kept saying to my managers that I didn't need more money. I just needed to be made equal and that can be done in a variety of ways.

'Given that the grievance had not reported back, I could not go back to China and collude knowingly in what I perceive to be unlawful pay discrimination, nor could I stay silent and watch the BBC perpetuate a failing pay structure by discriminating against women - I can't do it. '

Following her announcement last night, she was immediately supported by scores of prominent BBC figures, including Emily Maitlis, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Jane Garvey.

This afternoon it emerged that BBC staff have been told that anyone who has indicated support for Miss Gracie, or tweeted their opinions about BBC pay, can no longer present or carry out interviews in any segments on BBC pay - due to the Corporation's editorial guidelines on impartiality.

She guest presented Radio 4's Today show this morning and was asked about her decision to quit by co-host John Humphrys, who earns £650,000 a year.

Due to her responsibilities as a guest presenter she was unable to speak freely about it, despite her story being featured as a segment on the programme - which included a live interview with fellow journalist Mariella Frostrup on the subject.

And listeners took to Twitter to brand the whole situation as a 'peak BBC' moment.

Mick Collins tweeted: 'John Humphrys interviewing Mariella Frostrup about Carrie Gracie, while Carrie Gracie sits there because BBC rules say Carrie Gracie can't be interviewed about Carrie Gracie on a show Carrie Gracie presents is peak BBC. #r4today'

Jason Groves wrote: 'Delicious BBC paper review has John Humphrys (£650k) relating resignation of Carrie Gracie (£130k) over pay while she sits next to him. Awkward.'

And David Child said: 'John Humphrys reading out the story of Carrie Gracie in the papers while Carrie Gracie sits next to her is the most BBC meta thing ever. #r4today'

Journalist Carrie Gracie today said she was 'moved' by the support she has received after quitting her BBC role in a gender salary row

What she was allowed to speak about was the reaction to her decision and Miss Gracie today said she was 'moved' by the support she has received.

This morning on Radio 4, she thanked her supporters but said she doesn't want to be known as 'the woman who complained about money'.

While reading finishing the news bulletin co-host Mr Humphrys, who earns £650,000 per year, said: 'And the big story in all the papers pretty much, the resignation of somebody called Carrie Gracie as the BBC's China editor. It's the main story in The Times, front page of The Sun, The i and so on.

'And at this point given that Carrie is here...

Miss Gracie interrupted: 'What's happening next John? Where are we going from here?'

Mr Humphrys carried on: '...And given that you are sitting next to me in the studio, perhaps listeners will expect me to do a really tough interview with you about that bombshell letter.

'But the BBC has rules on impartiality which means that presenters can't suddenly turn into interviewees on the programmes they are presenting.'

Miss Gracie replied: 'Well, that's a relief.'

Mr Humphrys continued: 'Maybe, but you are going to be doing an interview here on Woman's Hour on Radio 4. Just a quick though, you know the rules...'

Miss Gracie quipped: 'We're not doing an interview but you're going to ask.'

Mr Humphrys asked: 'The reaction has been quite a big one hasn't it?'

134 female journalists issued a statement saying they 'wholeheartedly support' Miss Gracie and that the BBC must act quickly on the gender pay gap

Miss Gracie said: 'It has. It's been very moving actually. Two things have really struck me and moved me most is the scale of the feeling, not just among BBC women but also across the country and internationally - the support that I've had.

'I think it does speak to the depths of hunger for equal pay. What was also lovely was the amount of people mentioning my China work. I would not wish to be remembered forever as the person who... the woman who complained about money...'

Mr Humphrys interrupted: 'Too late, too late.'

Miss Gracie added: 'I want to be remembered as the woman who did some fine China work and enough people are saying that to feel that it will not get buried as a result of this.'

The presenter is passionate about closing the gender pay gap. On November 10 last year, known as 'equal pay day' the presenter tweeted about the pay disparity 31 times

BBC Sport presenter Clare Balding said the letter was for 'everyone who loves and values the BBC from one of its finest journalists'

Newnight anchor Emily Maitlis shared the blog saying this was 'Carrie Gracie's story in her own words'

BBC sport presenter Gabby Logan said 'there is nothing more clear cut than Carrie's request'

Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark was 'outstanding and principled' and that she was 'proud to stand with her'

The Scottish journalist (pictured here in 2009) was immediately supported by scores of prominent BBC figures following her letter

Last night, the 55-year-old said she and her female colleagues have felt 'trapped' since the controversial pay disclosures last summer, and that the BBC has 'attempted a botched solution' to address the gender pay gap.

She also revealed that she has left her position in China and will instead return to her role in the BBC News Channel newsroom in the UK where she said she 'expect[s] to be paid equally'.

Citing a lack of 'trust' in how the BBC is handling what she terms a pay 'crisis', she said she had 'abruptly' left the Beijing bureau last week after four years.

CARRIE GRACIE SUPPORTERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PRESENT SEGMENTS ON BBC PAY Following Carrie Gracie's announcement last night, she was immediately supported by scores of prominent BBC figures, including Emily Maitlis, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Jane Garvey. This afternoon it emerged that BBC staff have been told that anyone who has indicated support for Miss Gracie, or tweeted their opinions about BBC pay, can no longer present or carry out interviews in any segments on BBC pay. The BBC's editorial guideline state: 'When dealing with controversial subjects concerning the BBC, our reporting must remain duly impartial, as well as accurate and fair. 'We need to ensure the BBC's impartiality is not brought into question and presenters or reporters are not exposed to potential conflicts of interest. 'It will be inappropriate to refer to either the BBC as 'we' or the content as 'our'. There should also be clear editorial separation between those reporting the story and those responsible for presenting the BBC's case.' Advertisement

The presenter, who became the BBC's first China editor in 2013, has also revealed how she turned down a £45,000 pay rise on her £135,000 salary to stay in her role.

Speaking on Woman's Hour today she insisted her case was not for her to be paid more.

She was introduced onto the show by presenter Jane Garvey, who said: 'Because of the BBC's impartiality rules, I can't interview Carrie. But Jane Martinson is a freelance journalist and former women's editor and media editor at The Guardian. She is in our radio car this morning.'

Speaking to Ms Martinson, Miss Gracie said: 'From when the pay revelations were made last July I've been trying to put it right through negotiation and through internal discussion.

'I lodged an equal pay complaint in August and wrote to the director general, explaining and warning that I would resign if I was not paid equally. I explained to all my managers how important it was to me - the principle of equal pay.

'I reminded them that when I went to China I actually insisted it was a condition of me going, so I was very disappointed by the pay revelations in July. I set about trying, by negotiation to put that right.

'In October the BBC made me a pay offer. My pay is £135,000 and they offered to raise that to £180,000.

'However, I wasn't interested in more money - I was interested in equality. I kept saying to my managers that I didn't need more money. I just needed to be made equal and that can be done in a variety of ways.

'I didn't feel that was a solution I felt it was a divide and rule box solution that would not make the BBC better - and I do love the BBC. I've been reporting for the BBC for more than 30 years - this is my professional family.

'I want it to be the best. Every day I go out without fear or favour, facing intimidation in China, facing censorship and actually telling the story and shining a light. I'm not going to not shine a light when I find a problem in my home organisation that needs saying.'

BBC news anchor Naga Munchetty said Miss Gracie was 'a woman I already greatly admire - now even more so'

Sarah Montague, presenter of Radio 4 Today's show said 'Gracie is brave and brilliant'

BBC 5live presenter Emma Barnett said '2018 marks 100 years since the first women in this country won the vote, and yet women are still fighting for equal pay for equal work'

Miss Gracie said she was promised a grievance outcome before Christmas, but the date kept being put back and she quit because she couldn't go back to China without a resolution on the matter.

She said: 'I just decided that enough was enough - for six months this has made me very unhappy.

'It's been a huge job at work to try to put it right, to try to understand the law. I tried to set about it like any other reporting task - I tried to understand the law.

'I looked at employment tribunal cases, I talked to colleagues male and female, I talked to my bosses, I talked to lawyers - and at the end of all that, it is very hard to continue to do the job of China Editor in one of the most important and difficult reporting jobs of our time.

Miss Gracie said she was promised a grievance outcome before Christmas, but the date kept being put back and she quit because she couldn't go back to China without a resolution on the matter

The BBC pay audit, carried out by PwC and Eversheds, did not include senior managers, on-air editors, presenters or correspondents, and Miss Gracie said these were the jobs where women face the largest pay gaps

'I chase around being surveilled the whole time, dealing with intimidation, dealing with police harrassment in a heavily-censored one-party state. I speak Chinese, I have a degree in Chinese, I have been reporting there for nearly 30 years. I just feel I work hard.

'Given that the grievance had not reported back, I could not go back to China and collude knowingly in what I perceive to be unlawful pay discrimination, nor could I stay silent and watch the BBC perpetuate a failing pay structure by discriminating against women - I can't do it. '

The BBC pay audit, carried out by PwC and Eversheds, did not include senior managers, on-air editors, presenters or correspondents, and Miss Gracie said these were the jobs where women face the largest pay gaps.

The pay disclosure showed that the BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel and Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen both earned more than £150,000 last year.

Sopel, who has been in the role since 2014, was paid between £200,000 and £249,999, while Bowen was in the bracket below, earning up to £199,999. Miss Gracie's name did not appear on the list, nor did that of BBC Europe editor Katya Adler.

BBC journalist Jane Hill said Miss Gracie was 'superb' and her letter was for 'women of any age in any workplace'

Carrie Gracie has stepped down from her editor role and has been described as being 'brilliant' and 'relentless' by a colleague

BBC Women, a group of more than 150 broadcasters and producers, said: 'It is hugely regrettable that an outstanding journalist like Carrie Gracie feels she has no option but to resign from her post because the BBC has not valued her equally. Up to 200 women that we know of in various grades and roles have made pay complaints.'

Hundreds of senior BBC women have pledged their support for Miss Gracie.

After the news broke #IStandWithCarrie trended on Twitter as social media users and fellow BBC staff showed their support for the broadcaster.

Miss Gracie's 1,400-word letter published on her blog tonight, also explained how she had discovered the BBC's male international editors 'earned at least 50 per cent more' than the female ones.

The timing of her damning indictment will be uncomfortable for BBC bosses, as she has recently been standing in as a presenter on Radio 4's Today programme and is due to do the same this week.

Addressing the letter to the BBC audience, she wrote: 'With great regret, I have left my post as China editor to speak out publicly on a crisis of trust at the BBC.

'The BBC belongs to you, the licence fee payer. I believe you have a right to know that it is breaking equality law and resisting pressure for a fair and transparent pay structure.'

How the BBC's revelations about its top earners exploded into a scandal over the gender pay gap In July 2017, the BBC came under fire for paying its male staff significantly more than their female counterparts when their pay figures were released. The 96 highest earning stars at the Corporation were revealed, of them 62 were male and 34 were female, the top seven highest earning stars were all men. Men earned an average of £295,000 and women earned an average of £210,000 - a nine per cent difference. Radio presenter Chris Evans topped the list with a salary of between £2.2million and £2.25 whereas the top female presenter Claudia Winkleman earned between £450,000 and £500,000. It lead to calls from Culture Secretary Karen Bradley to call for the public service broadcaster to 'lead the way' in closing the gender pay gap both on and off screen. Apprentice star and Conservative Peer Karren Brady also spoke out on the issue saying 'The BBC is publicly funded so people want to know where their licence fee is spent and who gets what. Gary Lineker earns £1.8 m, while his female equivalent, Clare Balding, is on £199,000. He is not overpaid, she is shockingly underpaid. A lot of the men should be forcing the BBC to pay more.' Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden also blasted the BBC for their gender pay gap. But revealed that she is paid the same salary as her fellow Dragons. During an appearance on ITV's Loose Women she said: 'I'm not a woman in the Den, I'm a Dragon, we're all there to invest, it has nothing to do with gender. Advertisement

She went on to blast the BBC's response to the controversy surrounding its publication of talent pay above £150,000, particularly surrounding the gender pay gap and the vast salaries for the top presenters.

She wrote: 'The outgoing Director of News said last month, 'We did a full equal pay audit which showed there is equal pay across the BBC.' But this was not a full audit.

The BBC's top earners finally revealed 1. Chris Evans £2.2m - £2.25m 2. Gary Lineker £1.75m - £1.8m 3. Graham Norton £850,0000 - £899,999 4. Jeremy Vine £700,000 - £749,999 5. John Humphrys £600,000 - £649,999 6. Huw Edwards £550,000 - £599,999 7. Steve Wright £500,000 - £549,999 = 8. Claudia Winkleman £450,000 - £499,999 = 8. Matt Baker £450,000 - £499,999 = 9. Nicky Campbell £400,000 - £449,999 = 9. Andrew Marr £400,000 - £449,999 = 9. Stephen Nolan £400,000 - £449,999 = 9. Alan Shearer £400,000 - £449,999 =9. Alex Jones £400,000 - £449,000 10. Fiona Bruce £350,000 - £399,999 Advertisement

'It excluded the women with the biggest pay gaps. The BBC has now begun a 'talent review' but the women affected have no confidence in it. Up to two hundred BBC women have made pay complaints only to be told repeatedly there is no pay discrimination at the BBC. Can we all be wrong? I no longer trust our management to give an honest answer.'

She claimed 'up to 200 women' have made complaints in the last six months since the BBC disclosed the pay details of its top earners.

She added: 'It is not men earning more because they do more of the jobs which pay better. It is men earning more in the same jobs or jobs of equal value,' she said in her letter.

Miss Gracie, who mentioned the difficulty of living 5,000 miles away from her two teenage children during her time in Beijing, has worked for the BBC for 30 years.

In September 2011, she left the BBC to undergo cancer treatment, returning to the BBC News Channel the following May.

However, when James Harding - BBC director of news and current affairs - offered her the role of China Editor in 2013, she said he insisted that she be paid the same as her male counterparts.

Miss Gracie has received floods of support from other journalists since the news broke earlier this evening.

News of the departure was swiftly retweeted by senior BBC journalists including Newsnight presenters Emily Maitlis and Kirsty Wark, as well as Victoria Derbyshire.

Soon after 134 female journalists issued a statement saying they 'wholeheartedly support' Miss Gracie and that the BBC must act quickly on the gender pay gap.

The journalist (pictured with Simon McCoy) will return to her role in the BBC News Channel newsroom in the UK

In 2011, Miss Gracie took eight months off air while having treatment for cancer. She returned in 2012 after losing her hair to chemotherapy . Pictured in 2012 with Simon McCoy

Returning to air after suffering from cancer, collegue Simon McCoy said of Miss Gracie 'She is indeed an inspiration. A brave lady indeed. To do what she is doing today takes true guts'

BBC workers also tweeted commending Miss Gracie.

Maria Byrne, a senior BBC producer called Miss Gracie 'the best of the BBC' and that she was 'talented, hardworking and always asking tough questions'.

BBC News North America Correspondent, James Cook said Miss Gracie stepping down as 'a huge loss to the BBC' and described her as 'highly principled and extremely talented'.

Rachel Kennedy, an editor at BBC News said it was a 'huge loss' and she was 'always proud to work with Miss Gracie.

Josephine McDermott, who works on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show also called losing the China editor a 'tragedy' and that Miss Gracie was 'more of an inspiration than anything'.

Woman's Hour presenter Jane Garvey wrote: 'Brave, brilliant @BBCCarrie please read her letter as she resigns as China editor over #equalpay'.

She later added 'I'm not brave enough to resign, I'm not pretending otherwise.'

Today programme host Sarah Montague added: '@BBCCarrie Gracie is brave and brilliant. Not sure what is so hard to understand about #equalpay for equal work. #IstandwithCarrie'

Radio 5Live presenter Rachel Burden said: 'Heading for bed but so heartened to see such support for our brilliant colleague @BBCCarrie in her fight for #equalpay.'

Maria Byrne, senior Europe producer at BBC News, posted: 'Worked as @BBCCarrie's producer for 3 years. She's the best of the BBC: talented, hard working, & always asking tough questions. #bbcwomen for #equalpay'

BBC 5live presenter said she heartened to see support for Miss Gracie, who she described as 'brilliant'

BBC News North America Correspondent, James Cook said Miss Gracie stepping down as 'a huge loss to the BBC' and described her as 'highly principled and extremely talented

Maria Byrne, a senior BBC producer called Miss Gracie 'the best of the BBC' and that she was 'talented, hardworking and always asking tough questions'

Rachel Kennedy, an editor at BBC News said it was a 'huge loss' and she was 'always proud to work with Miss Gracie

Josephine McDermott, who works on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show also called losing the China editor a 'tragedy' and that Miss Gracie was 'more of an inspiration than anything'

Jane Garvey wrote: 'Brave, brilliant @BBCCarrie please read her letter as she resigns as China editor over #equalpay' and later added 'I'm not brave enough to resign, I'm not pretending otherwise'

Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman commented: 'Brilliant letter by @BBCCarrie & a tragedy for the @BBC to lose such a talented China Editor #equalpay'

Gabby Logan wrote: 'There is nothing more clear cut than Carrie's request. Equal pay for equal work. #ItandWithCarrie #Equality'

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty said: 'A woman I already greatly admired - now even more so. BBC China Editor Carrie Gracie steps down over over unequal pay.'

Countryfile presenter Ellie Harrison added: 'How disheartening that it has had to come to this. The distinction must be clear: it's about equal pay. Not 'fair pay' and not a 'gender pay gap'.'

Kirsty Wark wrote: '@BBCCarrie is an outstanding and principled journalist and I am proud to stand with her #bbcwomen #equalpay #istandwithcarrie'

BBC Front Row and Newswatch presenter Samira Ahmed commented: 'Equal pay for equal work of equal value is the law. If it's happening to #BBCWomen, it's happening to you. #istandwithcarrie '

BBC journalist Jane Hill wrote: 'This is why my superb colleague @BBCcarrie has resigned as China Editor. This is for women of any age in any workplace.'

Clare Balding posted: 'This is a letter to everyone who loves and values the BBC from one of its finest journalists. @BBCCarrie has resigned as China editor. Please read and retweet. It's time for #equalpay.'

Channel 4 news presenter Cathy Newman said it was a 'tragedy' for the BBC to lose such as talented journalist.

Miss Gracie's BBC colleague Emily Maitlis retweeted Channel 4 News International Editor who said the BBC did not respect their China editor

Jackie Long, Channel 4's social affairs editor called the letter 'astonishingly brave'

Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith called the letter 'devastating' and said that Miss Gracie had done a 'brilliant job' as China editor

Kate Silverton added: 'A brave & principled stand over #equalpay @BBCCarrie who has written a letter to the #BBC audience published in @thetimes #bbcwomen #equalpay #istandwithcarrie.'

Jackie Long, Channel 4's social affairs editor called the letter 'astonishingly brave'.

Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith called the letter 'devastating' and said that Miss Gracie had done a 'brilliant job' as China editor.

Ms Smith added: 'BBC don't deserve talent like her if they can't get their act together on #equalpay' and even suggested she could replace Today show present John Humphrys.

Sophie Walker, leader of the Women's Equality Party accused the BBC of 'cynically engineering its pay review to list top male earners separately and fake a 9 per cent pay gap.

Ms Walker added: 'Carried Gracie has shine a light on the reality gap. Bravo. We need an equal pay audit with teeth [sic].'

Sophie Walker, leader of the Women's Equality Party accused the BBC of 'cynically engineering its pay review to list top male earners separately and fake a 9 per cent pay gap

In the letter, Miss Gracie wrote: 'I accepted the challenges while stressing to my bosses that I must be paid equally with my male peers.

'Like many other BBC women, I had long suspected that I was routinely paid less, and at this point in my career, I was determined not to let it happen again. Believing that I had secured pay parity with men in equivalent roles, I set off for Beijing.

'In the past four years, the BBC has had four international editors - two men and two women. The Equality Act 2010 states that men and women doing equal work must receive equal pay.

Carrie Gracie's clash with Lord Foulkes at the height of the expenses scandal In 2012, at the height of the expenses scandal Miss Gracie famously revealed her salary live on air at the request of an MP. The transcript was as follows. Lord Foulkes: 'You are not at all sorry to interrupt me, you are quite happy to interrupt me because you do it constantly, every time an MP comes on you constantly harass them. 'MPs are going around the country, in their constituencies, doing a great deal of work. You never focus on that. 'They are paid £64,000 a year. How much are you paid for coming on television and harassing MPs and other people in this way. 'Can't you tell me how much are you paid out of the licence fee?' Ms Gracie: 'My salary is...' Lord Foulkes: 'Yes, Freedom of Information. What is it?' Ms Gracie: 'My salary is £92,000...' Lord Foulkes: '£92,000? So you're paid nearly twice as much as an MP to come on and talk nonsense on TV?' Ms Gracie: 'Every single call I make, I make from my own phone. I don't ever make a personal call from the BBC because I understand what public sector money is about.' Lord Foulkes: 'And my understanding is that [Radio 4 Today programme presenter] John Humphrys is paid hundreds of thousands of pounds, [Newsnight presenter] Jeremy Paxman is paid nearly a million pounds to come on TV and sneer at democracy and undermine democracy. 'The vast majority of MPs are not abusing the system, are working hard in their constituency, are being undermined by you and are devastated because of the kind of publicity you are giving them and you are paid a lot more than them to do a lot less important work.' Ms Gracie: 'We'll see what the public make of it, Lord Foulkes.' Advertisement

'But last July I learned that in the previous financial year, the two men earned at least 50 per cent more than the two women.

'Despite the BBC's public insistence that my appointment demonstrated its commitment to gender equality, and despite my own insistence that equality was a condition of taking up the post, my managers had yet again judged that women's work was worth much less than men's.'

In July, Miss Gracie co-signed a letter with 43 other female stars addressed to BBC Director General Tony Hall.

The letter demanded that Mr Hall 'act now' and not 'wait until 2020'.

Forty-four female BBC staff signed the letter to Tony Hall including Clare Balding, Sue Barker and Fiona Bruce

Miss Gracie sent several tweets on November 10 last year, a day recognised as equal pay day by feminist groups. It occurs on this date as 'women effectively stop earning relative to men on a day in November' according to the Fawcett society.

The journalist sent or retweeted 31 tweets on that day, and has only posted to her Twitter account four times since in the two months since.

On the day she tweeted: 'Who else is amazed that in 2017 there are still people out there who think women shouldn't be asking for equal pay?'

She also said: 'Thank you to all the men standing shoulder to shoulder with women on #equalpayday'.

Miss Gracie tweeted 31 times on equal pay day this year to show her support for fair pay at the BBC and beyond

Miss Gracie thanked the men who stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with women on equal pay day

Miss Gracie said 'we're not going away' over the equal pay argument at the BBC

Last night a BBC spokesman said: 'Fairness in pay is vital. A significant number of organisations have now published their gender pay figures showing that we are performing considerably better than many and are well below the national average.

'Alongside that, we have already conducted an independent judge led audit of pay for rank and file staff which showed 'no systemic discrimination against women'.

'A separate report for on air staff will be published in the not too distant future.'

Miss Gracie famously revealed her salary live on air in a 2012 interview with Lord Foulkes over the expenses scandal

Miss Gracie's ex-husband is a Chinese rock drummer, who speaks no English. The Guardian wrote in 2016 that he lives in Richmond looking after their children while she spends at least half of the year in China.

In 2009, she shocked viewers and her BBC bosses when revealing on-air that her salary was £92,000, in response to a question from an MP.

In 2015, the BBC used Miss Gracie as an example in a House of Lords in inquiry into women in news and current affairs broadcasting to show that women were well represented in the Corporation.