Actor Derek Thompson ‘Charlie from Casualty’ is revealed as the BBC’s highest paid soap star earning £400,000
Derek Thompson's salary was revealed as part of the BBC’s Annual Report
CASUALTY fans may be surprised to learn that the soap's character Charlie is the BBC's highest paid actor - earning up to £400,000-a-year.
Actor Derek Thompson's salary was revealed as part of the BBC’s Annual Report released today, which exposed a huge disparity in wages.
He's the longest serving star of the BBC One medical drama, appearing in the first episode on 1986, and has played the role of Charlie Fairhead for more than 30 years.
His co-star Amanda Mealing, who plays doctor Connie Beauchamp, was also the highest paid actress and earns between £250,000 and £299,000.
Danny Dyer, who has played EastEnders pub landlord Mick Carter since 2013, ranks in the same salary band as Peter Capaldi of £200,000-£249,999.
Doctor Who star Capaldi will be seen on screen as the Time Lord for the last time in this year's Christmas special, when the Tardis will be taken over by the first woman to ever play the role, former Broadchurch star Jodie Whittaker.
Also listed in the same band as Dyer and Capaldi is EastEnders stalwart Adam Woodyatt, known for playing Ian Beale.
Woodyatt is the soap's longest-serving member, and the only actor to have starred continuously in the BBC One soap since it first aired more than 30 years ago.
Only Fools And Horses star Sir David Jason, Silent Witness actress Emilia Fox and Holby City's Rosie Marcel also fall in the same bracket of £200,000-£249,999.
EastEnders stars Lacey Turner, Scott Maslen, Gillian Taylforth and Tameka Empson are ranked in the £150,000-£199,999 bracket.
They are joined by their soap co-stars Laurie Brett, who plays Jane Beale in the soap and starred in BBC drama Waterloo during a break from the soap, and Letitia Dean, who has played Sharon Watts on and off over the years.
Actress June Brown, 90, famous for her portrayal of EastEnders favourite Dot Cotton, is not listed in the pay rankings.
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The BBC revealed DJ Chris Evans topped the list pocketing over £2 million.
Only one third of the list of talent earning over £150,000 are women, with the top names being men. Details of stars' pay was revealed in £50,000 bands.
Lord Hall told Radio 4's Today programme that the BBC had reduced its spending on top talent by 25% in the past four years and 10% since last year, when 109 people took home a total of £31 million.
He said: "I completely understand that to lots and lots of people these are very large sums, but we are a global broadcaster in a very competitive market and we have to be competitive - but not foolishly.
"No-one would want us to be paying sums where it's not at a discount on the market.
"People expect us to have great broadcasters, great presenters, great stars, but pay them less than they would get on the market. Getting that discount right is very important."
Lord Hall described the publication of top salaries, which was opposed by the BBC, as a "bad idea" because it could tempt other broadcasters with deep pockets to poach stars creating an inflationary effect on pay.
Paula Chan, an employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon, said: “These figures expose what appears to be a deeply troubling disparity in pay between men and women at one of the UK’s most prominent publicly funded institutions, suggesting the pay gap within the BBC may be more significant than feared.
“We anticipate a number of high profile female employees will now be examining the figures and demanding an explanation as to why they are being paid less than their male colleagues.
"If the justification isn’t satisfactory, equal pay claims may be taken which would not only be costly but incredibly damaging to the standing and reputation of the BBC.”
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