Current Affairs 2023

[oldbluefox]

The BBC has released the last year's figures of what they pay the top earners.
Again Gary Lineker is leading the top ten at a cool £1.35m, everyone else earning C£1000 a day. Eye watering, nice work if you can get it.
Just a thought of who would be more handy with a problem with your heart, Gary Lineker on £1.3m or a consultant heart surgeon on £115,000.

......or a junior doctor on £32000
Somewhere along the line we seem to have lost our sense of priorities.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well for me I wouldn't pay Lineker in buttons.

But to keep this is perspective the BBC, because of its public funding, has to publish these salaries. The same people working for ITV, Sky, etc would earn more. Several "stars" have left the BBC because they didn't like their salaries being public knowledge and now earn far more while delivering smaller audiences. Like all industries it's a market place.

Just for the record, when I worked for the BBC I, like 99% of their employees, earned nowhere near those figures.

[Stephen]

£750000 is still not to be sniffed at hey Merv

[david63]

Just a thought of who would be more handy with a problem with your heart, Gary Lineker on £1.3m or a consultant heart surgeon on £115,000.

Not disputing the sentiment but you are not comparing like with like. Gary Lineker is at the top of his profession and a top surgeon can be earning £500,000 (or more) - still nowhere near GL I agree.

The problem is how do you value one person's value to society above that of another person? There are many people in various walks of life who are earning considerably more than an NHS consultant but that is the way of the world - not saying that it is right, just the way that it is. There is also the argument that those who are paid large salaries are pay more tax which pays the consultants salaries.

On the subject of Gary Lineker I have never seen the appeal of him - to me he is totally lacking any personality.

[david63]

Going back to the top non story I see that Jeremy Vine is saying that the presenter should name himself - me thinks this is more about Jeremy Vine than the presenter at the centre of all of this.

Something that has occurred to me and has not so far been mentioned - was this lad blackmailing the presenter and that the lad's estranged mother and step father may have got hold of the wrong end of the stick and put two and two together and made five?

[Mervyn and Trish]

I agree on both points.

I've also been musing on a number of points. Firstly although you refer to the "lad" I'm not sure we've been told the gender of either "victim". All the stories refer to "the young person". But does it make any difference whether this is a gay or straight thing? It shouldn't in the modern world.

We also don't know the age of the presenter. Are they 25 or 65? Makes a difference to how sleazy or not all this feels but no legal difference.

I also note a shift in language in reporting on one report this morning. From the presenter "buying" images to the other party "selling". Of course the transaction is both but the emphasis shifts. Flog a few pics then turn the screw? I don't know.

The latest "victim" poses yet more questions. They met on a dating site. Not unusual, not illegal, degree of sleaziness unknown as above. Maybe none at all They exchange private messages. So what? Then the "victim" threatens to go public with the name. Unpleasant, verging on blackmail. So the presenter gets annoyed and sends messages with expletives. Not illegal, in fact pretty much predicable response to that threat I'd say.

I'm still far from convinced there's anything to see here other than sensationalist press intrusion into the private lives of various individuals fuelling a social media feeding frenzy.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Just another quick thought on Jeremy Vine. Where's his credibility when he goes on air at 12 noon today to present a current affairs programme on the BBC now he's made himself this morning's headline?

[Ray B]

When you are well known and famous, to stray into anything which may not be acceptable to the majority is inviting this type of hysteria when somebody goes public. For a bit of titillating photos or a more serious practice, it can end up career ending and public humiliation. Unless there is a mental problem in play, why do those caught not think of the possible consequences beforehand.

[Manoverboard]

... I've also been musing on a number of points. Firstly although you refer to the "lad" I'm not sure we've been told the gender of either "victim". All the stories refer to "the young person". But does it make any difference whether this is a gay or straight thing? It shouldn't in the modern world.

It makes a difference to me.

My as yet to be ' outed ' BBC presenter, if all is legal, should in our modern world continue to ' present'.

In truth I can live with a presenter who chases totty but not one who gorges himself on rent boys.

Ok ... so I'm old fashioned but so are many others plus the BBC.

[Mervyn and Trish]

You can't be old fashioned Moby. That's homophobic apparently. Though, don't tell anybody, but I'm old fashioned too. Which is why I said shouldn't rather than doesn't. It is interesting though that you assume rent boy if it's a lad and totty, as opposed to prostitute, if it's a girl.

[oldbluefox]

If this person was sharing photos in their underpants it suggests it is a male unless women are now wearing underpants. Therefore I presume these are gay liaisons.
From what is reported the plot thickens and it could go anywhere.

[Stephen]

Whether it was a slip of the tongue (no pun intended but the BBC news reader lunchtime today said it was a male presenter.

[Ray B]

Nothing wrong with being old fashioned when it comes to values. Count me well and truly in.

[towny44]

Just a thought of who would be more handy with a problem with your heart, Gary Lineker on £1.3m or a consultant heart surgeon on £115,000.

Not disputing the sentiment but you are not comparing like with like. Gary Lineker is at the top of his profession and a top surgeon can be earning £500,000 (or more) - still nowhere near GL I agree.

The problem is how do you value one person's value to society above that of another person? There are many people in various walks of life who are earning considerably more than an NHS consultant but that is the way of the world - not saying that it is right, just the way that it is. There is also the argument that those who are paid large salaries are pay more tax which pays the consultants salaries.

On the subject of Gary Lineker I have never seen the appeal of him - to me he is totally lacking any personality.

Apparently Mbappe earns €2m a week, I doubt there are are very many who think he is worth anywhere near that amont, except for the PSG owners.

[Stephen]

Nice work if you can get it though.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Whether it was a slip of the tongue (no pun intended but the BBC news reader lunchtime today said it was a male presenter.

It's definitely a male presenter, it's the gender of the other parties that hasn't been revealed. Though these days by the time we find out they'll have probably changed their mind.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Bloody hell. That is all.....

[Onelife]

Real shame…distinguished career up in smoke.

[paultheagle]

I don't believe it, not him. I hope he gets better real soon.

[Mervyn and Trish]

There is still clearly much we don't know. Perhaps it will become clearer when he is well enough to tell his side.

[Ray B]

Shame, he was a well respected presenter, I would never have had him in the frame.

[Whynd1]

Apparently the presenter in question has suffered depression for some time,which has been well documented.

Do hope he gets the medical care he needs and gets well soon.

How sad it all is.

Lindsey

[Onelife]

Depression is one of those illnesses that can take you to places you otherwise would not go. I hope he and his family are given the privacy they have requested.

[Onelife]

P.s I’ve got some very tasty photos of me in my underpants if anyone is interested… price negotiable

[Mervyn and Trish]

I've asked around and found a 93 year old who will take them if you give her a tenner.