Women working at the BBC have slammed the Corporation's report into pay inequality after it found no evidence of gender bias - despite auditors finding a 6.8 per cent difference in salaries between male and female stars.

BBC Women - set up by a group of 170 women who work at the BBC - already said they had 'no confidence' in the review and had been 'excluded from the process'.

Woman's Hour host Jane Garvey, a leading figure in the group, said: 'We reject the findings of the report...we were not consulted on its scope of methodology.'

Accountancy firm PwC, which produced the report, said the broadcaster's approach to setting pay for on-air staff had been 'far from perfect' and there were 'anomalies' that needed addressing.

It blamed this on a 'lack of clarity and openness' and financial constraints in the company over the last decade, rather than gender bias.

However the 'fair and transparent' framework announced by the BBC will benefit a larger number of men than women. The broadcaster said out of the 188 on-air staff who will receive pay rises, 98 are male and 90 are female.

Following the report, Director-General Tony Hall (pictured speaking previously) said: 'The BBC has a special role representing Britain. That is why we need to be and want to be an exemplar on gender pay, and equal pay'

Women at the BBC said they had faced 'veiled threats' while trying to broach the subject of equal pay.

BBC Women, which includes presenters such as Jane Garvey, Mishal Husain and Victoria Derbyshire, criticised today's on-air review.

'The on-air review should not be confused with an equal pay audit of all the BBC's presenters, on-air editors and correspondents,' they said in a statement.

'It has been focused on news and news-related areas, therefore excluding some high-earners.

'There's been no transparency on which individuals were included or why.'

They added: 'We hope today's commitment from the director-general to put equality at the heart of what the BBC stands for results in swift and meaningful change for women in all roles and at all levels at the organisation.'

Lord Hall says 'there's not really a market for people in news' Asked whether pay cuts could follow for Chris Evans and other entertainment stars, Lord Hall told The World At One on Radio 4: 'Every time that any contract comes up, we look at the value for money for that contract and what we're prepared to pay that person and we scrutinise that very, very carefully indeed and that's going to continue.' He said: 'At the moment we're looking at news. There is not really a market for people in news, as there might have been in the decade before, or there is today in say drama and entertainment when you're dealing with the likes of Netflix and so on.' He said allegations of veiled threats against female staff broaching the subject of equal pay was 'absolutely unacceptable'. Asked about the cost of putting up some wages, he said: 'The cost of that, I can't tell you at the moment. We need to work that through.' Advertisement

Garvey told the World At One: 'Without being overly cynical, I might venture to suggest that PwC has delivered the report that the BBC asked for.'

She added: 'This is never about cutting men's pay, cutting men's pay is not a solution to the issue of equal pay.'

The data revealed the biggest gap in median pay - 20 per cent - was in the second highest band of presenters, which includes those working in TV specialist news and radio rolling news.

The gap for the 17 very highest earners, such as Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce, was lower at nine per cent.

One woman, employed by the BBC, said the review 'misses the point entirely.'

She told the Telegraph: 'The biggest earners in entertainment aren't even included.

'The BBC employees 19,000 people - most of whom are not on-air. What about the off air women - many of them lower down the food chain and some who earn less than £20,000 - who can't speak for themselves? Where is the focus on them?

'Unless a proper system is put in place, it is never going to change. It's indefensible.'

Woman's Hour presenter Jane Garvey (pictured left, with Jenni Murray), a leading figure in the BBC Women group, said: 'We reject the findings of the report'

What is the biggest pay gap at the BBC? Corporation has a 20 PER CENT difference in some roles The report by PwC, which examined the pay of more than 800 on-air staff, found the overall pay gap at the Corporation is 6.8 per cent. In lower-profile roles – 656 of the 824 – the gender pay gap is 12.6 per cent. The data revealed the biggest gap in median pay - 20 per cent - was in the second highest band of presenters, which includes those working in TV specialist news and radio rolling news. The gap for the 17 highest earnings presenters, such as Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce, on the 6pm and 10pm main BBC1 news bulletins was lower at nine per cent. The BBC said it had set a target for 2020 for 50 per cent of women on screen, on air and in lead roles across all genres from drama to news. Advertisement

The Women's Equality Party tweeted: 'Today's report from PWC failed to win the confidence of staff because it was set up by the BBC, for the BBC, it did not consult employees properly and, by the BBC's own admission, it did not include 'substantive involvement' from the independent QC #bbcwomen'.

The long-running debate about salary inequality at the BBC has dogged the broadcaster since last summer.

In response to the report the BBC said it wanted to be the 'most transparent organisation when it comes to pay' and will do more to explain the salary of each presenter receiving more than £150,000.

It wants to close the gender pay gap by 2020 by which point it aims to have equal numbers of men and women on screen.

Unveiling a pay system with 'transparency at its heart', the broadcaster also announced 'substantial pay cuts' for some men and increases for some female (and male) presenters.

The BBC has proposed a £320,000 cap on its news presenters' salaries after an outcry over gender pay inequality, according to BBC News.

The broadcaster revealed a five-point plan designed to fix issues raised by the PwC report:

On air, there will be 'substantial' pay cuts for some men, and pay rises for some men and women.

A 'new framework' for determining the pay of people on air will be introduced.

Everyone will be able to see the pay range for virtually every job in the BBC. Where there are more than 20 people in a job, staff will also be able to see where everyone else is positioned.

The BBC will look at what more can be done to make the company a 'better place for women to work'.

The BBC will aim to close the gender pay gap by 2020 and have equal numbers of men and women on screen.

The likes of John Humphrys (left) and Huw Edwards (right) are taking lower wages at the BBC

Campaigner for gender equality had interview on Women's Hour 'pulled' Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, was due to appear on BBC Women's Hour to discuss pay at the BBC. But the campaigner for gender equality said it was 'pulled' as Jane Garvey was not allowed to interview her. In a tweet she said: 'So the Beeb's flagship women's programme is being silenced on unequal pay?' Advertisement

Director-General Tony Hall said today: 'The BBC believes in equality. No one should be paid differently because of their gender.

'The BBC has a special role representing Britain. That is why we need to be and want to be an exemplar on gender pay, and equal pay.

'Today's report does not find evidence of gender bias in decision-making, but it shows that we have real and important issues to tackle, particularly in some areas of news and current affairs, and I'm determined to get it right.'

Asked whether pay cuts could follow for Chris Evans and other entertainment stars, Lord Hall told The World At One on Radio 4: 'Every time that any contract comes up, we look at the value for money for that contract and what we're prepared to pay that person and we scrutinise that very, very carefully indeed and that's going to continue.'

He said: 'At the moment we're looking at news. There is not really a market for people in news, as there might have been in the decade before, or there is today in say drama and entertainment when you're dealing with the likes of Netflix and so on.'

He said allegations of veiled threats against female staff broaching the subject of equal pay was 'absolutely unacceptable'.

Pay cuts for BBC men are not the answer, says Julia Bradbury TV presenter Julia Bradbury has criticised the decision to give pay cuts to some high-profile male BBC stars, saying it is not the answer to controversy over equal pay. She told Good Morning Britain: 'It's very gallant of the men to step down like that... but I don't think that's the answer at all. Of course it's wrong to bring men down to try to make it an equal playing field for women.' Bradbury, 47, whose previous BBC credits include Countryfile and Watchdog, said: 'Obviously, I think that there should be equality and parity between men and women who are doing the same job... 'That said, when I was starting out at the BBC ... I got a significant job at the BBC, I was working with a male co-presenter who was more experienced, he was older, he'd been at it for much longer than I had, I didn't even ask what he was being paid but I didn't expect to be paid the same because I wasn't as qualified in terms of experience.' She said: 'There has got to be a conscious change in all our attitudes. That starts with accepting that men should be equal in the home environment and as fathers and mothers as well.' Advertisement

More than 120 female staff have lodged formal grievances against the Corporation, following the controversy that exploded last summer.

Most of the women taking action against the BBC are demanding pay rises to put them level with male colleagues.

But many also want backdated payments to compensate them for the income and pension contributions they have missed out on in the past.

As most of the money comes from the licence fee, which is currently £147 a year and pegged to inflation, there are fears money that would normally go towards making programmes will have to be diverted.

The long-running debate about gender pay at the BBC began last summer after the corporation published its salaries for on-air staff earning more than £150,000.

MPs last night published damning evidence from BBC Women – a coalition of 170 female staff including Victoria Derbyshire, Mishal Husain and Kirsty Wark – and the National Union of Journalists.

The evidence released yesterday included 14 cases 'of inequality of pay', detailing a string of examples of female staff being underpaid.

The women were not named 'out of concern for their BBC careers'.

But one presenter prepared to go on the record was former BBC Scotland health correspondent Eleanor Bradford, who claimed she was paid 'around £10,000' less than some of her male colleagues in similar roles, prompting her to leave the BBC after nearly 15 years.

Another female presenter said the gender pay disparity left her feeling as though bosses 'had naked pictures of you in their office'.

The MPs – from the digital, culture, media and sport Committee – said it appeared the BBC had a 'deeper cultural problem' with gender pay than previously thought.

The BBC has proposed a £320,000 cap on its news presenters' salaries after the outcry.

The upper limit will also apply to editors and correspondents, although the plans have not been fully agreed or signed off and those affected by the cap have been given the opportunity to respond, BBC News reported.

It has not been clarified if on-air staff will be able to earn more from other work at the BBC, such as entertainment programmes on radio and television.

The PwC report found a 6.8 per cent gender pay gap among on-air staff earning more than £150,000

Only 526 of 9,000 companies ordered to report their gender pay gap have done so Only 526 of the 9,000 companies who need to report their gender pay gap have done so, the Labour chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has revealed. Rachel Reeves raised the issue of reporting on gender pay during Commons Business Energy and Industrial Strategy questions. Responding, Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth Claire Perry said she shared Ms Reeves' 'extreme disappointment' in companies failing to report the data. Ms Reeves said: 'By last Friday just 526 of the 9,000 companies who need to report their gender pay gap have done so. 'What powers does the Government have to compel companies to publish these numbers ahead of the April deadline as there are no civil or criminal sanctions in the regulations?' Advertisement

Speaking today newly-appointed director of news and current affairs Fran Unsworth appeared to defend the salaries of top earners from entertainment and sports, such as Graham Norton, Gary Lineker and Chris Evans.

Evans is paid around £2.2 million and Lineker around £1.7 million.

Unsworth told BBC News: 'Well, I think it's the point...that these really are operating in different markets.

'Entertainment is a much more competitive market than news is, and has become increasingly competitive.

'And if we want to stay relevant...if we want to be popular, which we do, we take the licence fee from everybody, so we have a duty to make sure everybody gets something out of it, then we are going to have to employ the best people...'

She said of Radio 2, the home of DJ Evans: 'It's the most listened-to radio station in Britain and they are operating within that market.'

BBC director general Tony Hall and Carrie Gracie, who quit as the BBC's China editor over 'pay discrimination' this month, will be questioned by the committee of MPs tomorrow.

Last week a number of the BBC's leading male presenters agreed to have their pay cut in the wake of the row.

The broadcaster's China editor, Carrie Gracie (left), resigned in protest at pay inequality. She is pictured leaving BBC Broadcasting House in London with Kate Silverton (right)

The broadcaster said Jeremy Vine, Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Nick Robinson and Huw Edwards would take reduced wages.

Figures released in 2017 showed Vine was one of the corporation's highest paid stars, earning £700,000-£749,999; Humphrys, who presents the Radio 4 Today programme with Robinson, earned between £600,000 and £650,000 and BBC News presenter Edwards earned £550,000-£599,999.

Vine hosts a weekday show on Radio 2, as well as featuring in BBC News' election coverage, while Humphrys also presents Mastermind on BBC Two.

Veteran broadcaster Humphrys agreed to cut his salary to around £250,000 to £300,000, saying the BBC is now in a different position financially to its past.

BBC presenter Andrew Marr is paid up to £450,000 for hosting two shows a week

Jon Sopel, BBC's North America editor, has also accepted a pay cut.

The figures released last year showed he earned between £200,000-£249,999, while Gracie earned £135,000-a-year.

Radio 2's Chris Evans topped the 2017 list on more than £2 million, while the highest paid woman was Claudia Winkleman on between £450,000 and £499,999.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'We look forward to an informed debate at the select committee based on all the facts.

'The BBC is committed to equal pay, and we don't accept the assertion we have not been complying with the Equality Act, nor do we offer inferior contracts based on someone's gender or race.

'We want to help women progress in their career and have set out ambitious targets to close the gender pay gap, filled by women. We've also set out action to achieve them.

'We have already set out how we plan to deliver real pay transparency for our staff, and today we'll publish proposals to significantly change how we manage on-air pay so we have a clear, transparent and fair system for the future.'

The spokesperson added that the corporation would 'not getting in to debates at the moment on pay band levels'.

How the men compare to the women: BBC 'big beast' presenters pay comparisons Fiona Bruce , who is also the presenter of Antiques Roadshow, earns between £350,000 and £399,999 While some men accepted pay cuts last week, the BBC report has shone a light on the comparison between 'big beast' presenters at the Corporation. BBC News at Ten: Presenter Huw Edwards is paid between £550,000 and £599,999. His colleague Fiona Bruce, who is also the presenter of Antiques Roadshow, earns between £350,000 and £399,999. BBC Radio 4: John Humphrys is in the pay band £600,000 to £649,999. In comparison, Mishal Husain earns between £200,000 and £249,999 a year. BBC One: Andrew Marr, who presents his own political talk programme on BBC One, is paid between £400,000 to £449,999. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg earns between £200,000 and £249,999 a year. Andrew Marr , who presents his own political talk programme on BBC One, is paid between £400,000 to £449,999 BBC Radio Two: Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine earns between £700,000 and £749,999, while fellow presenter Jo Whiley's salary is between £150,000 and £200,000. Radio Five Live: Radio Five Live’s Nicky Campbell is paid between £400,000 to £449,999, while Rachel Burden was not even on the list of the Corporation's top 96 paid presenters. Advertisement

'The BBC doesn't do equal pay': What the former Scotland health correspondent was told when she queried her salary Last night MPs published a string of examples of pay inequality at the BBC. They included: Eleanor Bradford, former health correspondent for BBC Scotland Eleanor Bradford, former health correspondent for BBC Scotland: Paid about £15,000 less than male health journalists – despite being told she was a 'model correspondent'. Miss Bradford, pictured, complained and got a £5,000 increase, but left as it did not close the gap. When she queried her salary, she was told: 'The BBC doesn't do equal pay.' She was happy to be named since she no longer works for the corporation. TV news presenter: 'I sat next to a man with an identical job paid tens of thousands more' Spent three years sitting next to a man who was paid tens of thousands more for the same job. Was offered an immediate pay rise just before the BBC published its 'rich list' last summer. National radio presenter with more than 20 years' experience: 'The line manager told me 'the BBC doesn't do equal pay'' Invited on trial for a 'flagship arts programme'. Two men with 'no broadcasting experience' were paid 25 per cent extra for the same trial. She got the job but her male co-host was on 50 per cent more. Her boss told her the 'BBC doesn't do equal pay' and she was being 'aggressive' for raising the issue. BBC reporter: 'I don't resent my male colleague... but we need parity of pay' Earns half the rate her male counterpart does for equivalent programmes, with access to fewer resources. Offered 25 per cent pay rise when she complained, after months of wrangling. National broadcaster: 'I have been offered a 65% pay rise, whilst also being told 'there was no issue of equal pay' Offered 65 per cent rise after the pay row erupted – bringing her in line with the lowest-paid presenter on her programme. BBC said it was 'satisfied there was no issue of equal pay' in her case. News programme presenter: 'I am paid hundreds of thousands less than some of my colleagues' Spent six months negotiating a salary of £53,600 for a three-day week. Then found she was on £45,000 less than her immediate male predecessor. Sports broadcaster: 'What you are worth is solely at the whim of management who essentially in sport are always men' Receives £500 a shift to front a flagship sports radio programme – while her male co-presenter gets £1,200. Was offered £650 per shift after complaining. Says she is 'at the top of [her] game' with 30 years' experience. 'On air editor': 'The BBC has refused to accept there is an equal pay issue, but offered me an on the spot 10% increase' The BBC rich-list revealed a male editor on the same programme was paid between 50 and 100 per cent more than she is. BBC said there was no equal pay issue, but offered an 'on the spot 10 per cent increase' which she rejected. Regional presenter: 'I raised the equal pay issue many times over the years, but nothing was done' Is paid half the amount per shift that her male co-presenter receives, despite doing the same job for years. Sport editor: 'Four men doing the same job have confirmed their salary is higher by up to £10,000' Paid up to £10,000 less than her male counterparts. Requested equal pay last year but it is still under review. Radio 4 reporter: 'I am considering further action as they refuse to backdate my pay' Paid £7,000 less than her male colleague for doing the same job. When she raised a formal grievance, she was offered a £4,500 rise with no back pay. National radio presenter: 'I have worked with my male co-host six years and for all that time been paid one-third the rate he is paid' Gets just one third of the salary of her male co-host, despite doing the same job for the past six years. Was told in 2016 that there was no issue, but was given an increase in 2017. Presenter on national radio: 'As the sole breadwinner I eventually had no choice but to leave' Told in 2013 her local radio job was at risk and she could only stay on for half her previous salary – which was also half the rate paid to her male co-host. She could not afford to accept the deal so left. She then got a better-paid job at the BBC, but still earns less than half the amount of her male co-host. Regional news presenter: 'I can't see any justification for the pay gap which remains' Paid a third less than her male co-host on a TV news programme – despite working the same hours, and regularly being chosen over her colleague for particularly demanding segments. Had equal pay request refused until last year, when she was got a 5 per cent rise. Advertisement