Casualty actor Tom Chambers defends BBC gender pay gap by saying men need to pay for their WIVES

BBC actor Tom Chambers sparked outrage as he defended the controversial pay gap by saying men's inflated salaries are "for their wife and children".

The row broke out after the broadcaster revealed the names of all stars earning over £150,000 – a total of 96 people, of which only about a third are women.

Speaking at the launch of the Camilla Sacre-Dallerup’s self-help book Reinvent Me Tom said: “My wife works really hard as a stay-at-home mum, but I’m the only one bringing in a salary for our family.

“Many men’s salaries aren’t just for them, it’s for their wife and children, too.”

The comments provoked a furious online response with Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy tweeting: "Guessing dancing in 1950s musicals has given Tom Chambers that kind of mindset too... #21stcenturycalling."

Jack Monroe, food writer and activist, wrote: "Hello @BBC I'd like to withdraw the bit of my TV license that goes to Tom Chambers and pay it directly to his wife can you please advise thx."

Dr Emily Garside added: "Hey Tom Chambers, I work (yes a woman who works) five minutes from your set. I'll show you women 'bread winning' left and right."

Kerry Horvath wrote: "Tom Chambers defending the #genderpaygap as men often have to support a family - 1. Not relevant 2. Has a female never had to support a family."

Dr Emily Garside offered to show Tom many women who provide for their household

Casualty veteran Derek Thomson was revealed to be the Beeb's highest paid actor and his co-star, Tom, backed his £399,999 paycheck.

The 40-year-old said: "It’s like being a footballer — you earn your credits.

"I’ve just done six months on Casualty, but Derek has done 31 years of service.

"That means arriving in the dark at 6am and leaving when it’s dark at 9pm. It’s demanding stuff."

He later made a statement to say: "I am completely mortified by the stories that have run today and didn’t mean to offend anyone by my comments which have been taken out of context from a conversation I had at a book launch."I in no way advocate the gender pay gap and I was explaining that I thought it had stemmed from that past, and shouldn’t be how things are now. I truly believe that change needs to happen."

BBC director general Lord (Tony) Hall said that the total pay to top talent was around £5 million down on last year’s £31 million.

And he said he was “satisfied” that all 96 named were worth what they were being paid.

He added: “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.”

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.