262 BBC execs earn over £100,000

Director general Mark Thompson waived his bonus earlier this year

The number of top-level BBC executives earning six-figure salaries has more than doubled in the past five years, the corporation has confirmed.

A total of 262 executives are paid in excess of £100,000, compared with 122 in 2001. The BBC has attributed this rise to market forces and inflation.

Broadcasting unions have responded angrily to the figures.

"Low-paid workers are being dismissed as wages for top staff are rising," said Gerry Morrissey of Bectu.

"Bearing in mind the significant increase comes at a time of redundancies across the BBC, many would see this as very bad timing."

'Small percentage'

"With programme-making areas experiencing a significant amount of growth in the independent sector, the competition to attract and retain talented key staff has increased," said a BBC spokeswoman.

"It is worth noting, however, that the number of staff paid at this level is a very small percentage of the overall workforce."

BBC executives accepted bonuses of up to 25% of their salaries last year, though director general Mark Thompson waived his saying "it just wouldn't have felt right".

The corporation plans to shed 20% of its workforce over the next three years to cut costs and free up money to reinvest in programmes.