BBC could be forced to up pay of its next top boss as director-general role is called 'poisoned chalice'
Sources at the Corporation say bosses are 'having enormous difficulty' in finding 'decent candidates' to replace Tim Davie, who quit in November amid claims the BBC is institutionally biased.
By MARK HOOKHAM, ASSISTANT EDITOR (INVESTIGATIONS) and CHRIS HASTINGS
Published: 22:11 GMT, 3 January 2026 | Updated: 02:17 GMT, 4 January 2026
The BBC is considering hiking the pay of its director–general as it struggles to attract a high–flyer prepared to take on the 'poisoned chalice' job, it was claimed last night.
Sources at the Corporation say bosses are 'having enormous difficulty' in finding 'decent candidates' to replace Tim Davie, who quit in November amid claims the BBC is institutionally biased.
Mr Davie, who is expected to leave by March, was paid £547,000 last year but this is dwarfed by the salaries of other top media executives.
ITV boss Carolyn McCall was paid £4.1million in 2024.
The MoS understands applications for the job closed on Friday. However, many of the leading contenders earn more than £1million a year and are understood to be reluctant to lead a broadcaster so often engulfed by crisis.
Increasing the director–general's pay package is likely to be highly controversial because the licence fee is expected to rise to more than £180 this year from £174.50.
One source said: 'It is a job that no one wants. And one of the major problems is money.'
A BBC insider added: 'I think they might put the money up but that won't go down very well politically.'
Sources at the Corporation say bosses are 'having enormous difficulty' in finding 'decent candidates' to replace Tim Davie (pictured)
One of the possible candidates includes Jay Hunt, an executive at Apple TV
Jane Turton, CEO of the production giant All3Media is thought to be in the running
Charlotte Moore, who is believed to have doubled her £475,000 salary when she left the BBC last year to join Sony Pictures and Left Bank Pictures, is a possible candidate
Possible candidates include Jay Hunt, an executive at Apple TV; Jane Turton, CEO of the production giant All3Media, and Charlotte Moore, who is believed to have doubled her £475,000 salary when she left the BBC last year to join Sony Pictures and Left Bank Pictures.
Sources say an 'outstanding' candidate would be Patrick Holland, boss of programme maker Banijay and a former controller of BBC 2, but it is thought he'd be reluctant to move.
'Why would you want to go to an organisation where it's hard to see an exciting and dynamic future and where you will be attacked almost immediately?' said one executive.