The Spectator’s Notes | 7 June 2008

Never having watched Jonathan Ross, I have no opinion as to whether he is worth £18 million over three years, which is what the BBC is said to pay him. But the news that the BBC Trust had just reported that the BBC was not distorting the market with its huge payments to such stars happened to come on the same day that I was telephoned to ask if I would appear on a BBC television programme. Having discussed the subject matter, I said, perhaps in rather a sarky tone, ‘Will I be paid for this honour?’ ‘Oh!’ exclaimed the researcher, rather as if I had asked him to remove his trousers, ‘Oh, I’ll have to find out about that.’ The BBC is the only organisation for which I have ever done any work in which the people who seek your services get in touch without knowing what they will pay you.