6. Jeremy Paxman - £800,000 A Year - Newsnight And University Challenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YR4CseY9pk A stalwart of BBC journalism, at least there is a degree of intellect with Jeremy Paxman. So perhaps Paxman himself would admit that there is a level of unfairness (and plain stupidity) in the BBC paying him close to a million a year. In all seriousness, would he really stop showing up to work if the BBC paid him £300k less? Of course he wouldn't - where else is he going to pocket hundreds of thousands of pounds? The thousands that the BBC could save on Paxman's wage could then be invested in something of actual value - meaningful investigations, for example - or they could just keep interviewing politically meaningless celebs such as Russell Brand who no doubt also commanded a pretty payday for that insufferable Newsnight interview that become the stuff of internet legend last year). Granted, Paxman has a decent weekly work load. He isn't like part time Forsyth. Paxman works most nights on Newsnight and also presents University Challenge. Then again, many of us are in bed by Newsnight at half ten to be up for 6am so we can go earn a living to pay Paxman's wages. As for University Challenge, well... it has its place on telly, clocking in some admirable rating figures. I'm sure Paxman - who is notorious for arguing points - would make a pretty good case as to why deserves that money. I just highly doubt that any of his fronted programmes would significantly drop in numbers without him being there. Surely people aren't watching high brow productions like Newsnight and University Challenge based on seeing Jeremy Paxman?