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Bruce Forsyth's pay is Strictly cut by £160,000
Last updated at 16:27pm on 01.07.09Bruce Forsyth has reportedly agreed to take a pay cut for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. The 81-year-old said yes to a 25 per cent reduction, taking his pay from £660,000 to £500,000.
No Brucie bonus: Forsyth
He is believed to have known about impending cuts for weeks after a meeting with BBC director general Mark Thompson, and is said to have backed Mr Thompson's decision to cut salaries above £100,000 by at least a quarter. Some stars may have their pay slashed by 40 per cent.
A source told The Sun: "Bruce loves Strictly. We haven't signed a contract yet, but we hope to have things sorted within two weeks. In times like these people are taking cuts. Gone are the days when you'd get a Brucie bonus for being loyal. But can you imagine watching Strictly without Bruce? It would be almost unthinkable."
However, the seventh series of the celebrity dancing contest, which starts this autumn, may be Forsyth's last as he will be getting on for 82 by the time it finishes.
Me anwhi le, i t wa s revealed that GMTV presenter Kate Garraway has threatened to quit the show over plans to slash the sofa stars' salaries.
The 42-year-old is said to be angry that bosses suggested her £280,000 salary is cut by about £70,000.
A friend of Garraway, who is expecting her second child next month, revealed: "The deal was a shocker. Kate's agent is prepared to pull her from GMTV if they continue along these lines.
"The station is still hugely profitable and they're using the credit crunch as an excuse."
