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Mastermind? It’s just money for old rope, says John Humphrys
Ross Lydall18.09.09
John Humphrys has reignited the row over bumper BBC salaries by admitting that his job as Mastermind presenter is “money for old rope”.
Humphrys, 66, began presenting the BBC2 quiz show when it returned to TV screens in 2003, and revealed that he was well-paid for what he regards as a simple task.
Speaking last night at a corporate dinner, for which he is thought to have been paid about £10,000, Humphrys recalled being offered the chance to succeed Magnus Magnusson as Mastermind
host. “Money for old rope, I thought. I was right as well,” he said.
The vast salaries paid by the BBC to some of its key figures, from Jonathan Ross to director-general Mark Thompson, remain a source of debate, with the Tories today pledging to limit executives to the £192,250 earned by the Prime
Minister.
Humphrys, the veteran presenter of Radio 4's Today programme and regarded as Britain's fiercest radio interviewer, used his speech to make references to the size of former Prime Minister Tony Blair's penis and to mock celebrities who had appeared on Mastermind to raise money for charity.
He told the rail industry awards dinner at the Grosvenor House hotel how he had bumped into Mr Blair in the lavatories at the Today studios, shortly after a claim by Cherie Blair that her husband was so “fit” that they had sex five times
a night.
Humphrys said he stood beside Mr Blair at the urinals. “I said, I have just been reading about you'. Then I said, I'm surprised you can stand quite so close to the urinal'.”
Humphrys said the style adopted by Gordon Brown during interviews was “incredibly tedious” because of the Prime Minister's insistence on making a number of points. “Fun it isn't,” Humphrys said.
Speaking to about 700 people, including Transport Minister Chris Mole and Labour MP Tom Harris, Humphrys ridiculed an unnamed “soap star” and a politician for their wrong answers while appearing on celebrity editions of Mastermind.
The soap star, believed to be former EastEnders actor Paul Bradley, who now appears in Holby City, was asked which cereal he would associate
with being in prison. Bradley replied: “Cheerios.”
Humphrys was censured in 2005 for “inappropriate language” at a speech in which he ridiculed Labour politicians and said it was the BBC's job to “take on” the government.
Mr Thompson said the remarks risked calling into question the BBC's impartiality. Humphrys praised
the rail industry for its “incredible safety record” but criticised it for failing to prioritise the needs of passengers.
One VIP guest at the dinner said: “In my opinion, Rob Brydon was better the last time I was here. Less intellectual arrogance.”
Reader views (11)
I'm afraid it wasn't Paul Bradley who replied "Cheerios" on Mastermind, it was me, in 2005. And I'm not a celebrity, I'm afraid. Humphreys has mentioned it in an article in the Daily Mail, and it also got me into Dumb Britain in Private Eye. Please don't take my only moment of fame away from me!
- Paul S, London
Oh dear, you're at it again Tory bloggers. Humphreys says it's money for old rope (old rubbish more like) and suddenly it is the fault of the Government.
- Kerry, Purley
Money for old rope- that applies to the tosh served up in Eastenders too then...same old angry characters shouting and arguing...been going for years with the same bit of old rope! I really can't understand how it gladdens the heart of its many viewers! As for Mastermind....better Humphreys than a 'yoof' presenter
- Paddy, London
"Speaking last night at a corporate dinner, for which he is thought to have been paid about £10,000" - he can afford to say what he likes. You will note it's the older BBC presenters (Wogan's at it too) saying this, easy enough with their nailed on pension schemes. The problem is that he BBC gives them these shows as they're on bumber contracts anyway. A young Bamber Gascoigne would never have stood a chance at a decent show these days, though his little sister might have done had she been shapely enough. We are heading for a BBC populated with bimbos and old men.
- Paul, London
For that money, they should be using brand new road.
.
We cannot risk failure on the scaffold for these people (project in progress)
- J B Blackett, Hendon
The likes of Humphreys and Paxman deserve every penny of their publicly funded salaries for their parts in holding our elected representatives and others to account.
However, Humphreys's comments regarding Mastermind merely confirm what many of us have long suspected; that the vastly inflated salaries paid by the BBC to much of its so-called talent, is indeed money for old rope.
What I would like to know is just how does one gain access to the magic circle and thus land one of these comfortable sinecures?
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
Humphreys is a pretender - only Paxman is the real deal
- Wallytrader, London
Mastermind - well at least Boris did not apply!
Just think "Which Mayor of London removed the river?"
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
John Humphrys isn't very good at chairing Mastermind. His mini-interviews with the contestants are patronising, inept and uninformed - its probably for that reason they've done away with them in this series. The most toe-curlingly embarassing were his interviews with children on Junior Mastermind.
- Adeline Morell, Wapping, UK
John Humphrys is the one good egg in a chicken coop of rotten ones.
- Paul The'Otherone, Communist Britain
"Money for old rope"?
Just like parasite MP's with their snout in the trough of taxpayer's cash.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
