Leno agrees to pay striking staff

US chat show host Jay Leno has agreed to pay laid-off members of his 'Tonight Show' staff - after he was heavily criticised for not offering to pick up their pay cheques amid the ongoing writers' strikes.

Unlike peers David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, Leno - who makes an estimated $27m (€18.4m) a year - had refused to cover the salaries of his show staff out of his own pocket after they were made redundant on Friday.

But after facing a severe backlash from striking workers, the star has relented and agreed to pay his staff a week's wages, according to celebrity blog site Perez Hilton.

The lay-offs at the 'Tonight Show' are the latest casualties in the ongoing battle between the Writers Guild of America and producers over royalties.

The strike immediately shut down the late-night comedy shows and has gradually affected the production of many network-produced prime-time series, including 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Desperate Housewives'.