Forsyth reveals pay cut and backs salary cap

'Strictly Come Dancing' presenter Bruce Forsyth today said he has taken a pay cut and backed a cap on entertainers’ salaries.

In an interview with the BBC’s 'Newsnight' he said: “It’s a good thing to cap the salaries and I think it should have probably been done a long time ago.”

The 81-year-old told the programme that he and other stars had accepted a pay cut with “goodwill because these are very, very hard times”.

Forsyth added: ``We've always been overpaid but it's the demand and what's available. It's like in the theatre that old saying - you only command a high salary if you can 'put bums on seats'. So if you are in that position that does give you the status of asking for big money.''

But he said most performers and presenters understood that pay cuts were necessary.

Earlier this year there were reports that Forsyth had agreed a reduction of 25% when he signed up for a seventh series of Strictly as the BBC tried to slash its bill for “talent”.

This week Graham Norton told the Daily Telegraph that he also thought presenters were overpaid but said details should remain private.

He told the newspaper: “I’m happy to admit we are paid too much, when you think about it, but why should people know the exact figures? It’s not right. I mean, we just don’t talk about how much we’re paid – I’m referring to people in general – we don’t talk about what we’re paid.”

“Television pays big fees, some would say ridiculously big, but let’s leave it there. Why go into the details? As I say, it’s rude.”

When contacted this evening, Forsyth declined to discuss the story.

He said: “I’m going to Jimmy Tarbuck’s 50th wedding anniversary and I’m a bit late.”

The BBC has been heavily criticised for not publishing individual stars' salaries, though it has promised to make public the total amount it spends and is making efforts to cut its 'talent' bill.

In June, the corporation’s top talent were called to a meeting where they were told to expect their pay to be slashed.

Jeremy Clarkson and Terry Wogan were said to be among about 100 famous presenters at the gathering.

It’s reported that for some highly-paid stars, the salary reduction could be as much as 40%.