BBC Presenter Apologizes for Undeclared Earnings, Pauses External Work

Clive Myrie, the renowned BBC presenter, has recently found himself embroiled in a controversy surrounding undeclared earnings from external events. The esteemed broadcaster has taken responsibility for this oversight, attributing it to “several administrative issues.”

In a candid statement on X, Myrie admitted the fault and apologized with the sincere intention of stopping participation in paid events outside the institution for the foreseeable future, except for a few he had already committed to.

The BBC’s external events register was created in 2021, which requires the disclosure of outside paid work done by the on-air journalists and leaders. All these declarations of Myrie that had occurred as late as 2021 are now in the register. Of the five events declared late, five had a fee over £10,000 for every appearance.

Previously, the Sunday Times had highlighted Myrie’s failure to declare engagements including chairing a debate at GreenTalks Live and a keynote speech at a dinner hosted by ING Bank. He failed to declare nine others in addition to those, which include speaking engagements and hosting roles at different conferences and dinners.

As one of the BBC’s best-paid presenters, Myrie’s annual income is more than £310,000, not counting his fee for presenting the popular quiz show, Mastermind. The external events register is an important tool that the BBC uses to maintain standards of impartiality. Following the revelations, the corporation has strengthened compliance by updating guidelines on the amount of paid external events that individuals are allowed to participate in.

While Myrie’s apology and commitment to rectifying the situation are worthy, this incident underscores the need for transparency and accountability in the media industry. It is a reminder that even the most esteemed broadcasters are not immune to human error and administrative oversights. As the BBC continues to navigate the changing landscape of the media, the need to maintain the highest standards of journalistic integrity is paramount.