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Chris Evans responds to BBC pay backlash: 'I asked my mum for advice'

The salaries of the BBC’s biggest stars were revealed yesterday morning and promptly sparked outrage, with the general public unhappy to learn just how much the Beeb’s celebrity talent costs – particularly their top earner, Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans.

The report publicised Chris’s hefty £2.2m – £2.25m salary, with the controversial star – who was heavily criticised as the host of Top Gear last year – earning £1.5million more than the BBC’s top-earning woman, Claudia Winkleman.

Chris has spoken out.
Chris has spoken out.

Although he kept quiet when the pay reveal first broke, Chris opened up about his hefty salary on his radio show this morning, admitting that he’d called his 91-year-old mum for advice on how to handle the situation.

The star explained: “What do you say when confronted with the question ‘are you embarrassed about what you earn? Are you ashamed of what you earn?’

“How do you react to that question when all you’re doing is coming to work every day like you have been for years to fulfil an agreed contract?

The star asked his mum for advice.
The star asked his mum for advice.

“So here’s what I did. I called my mum; she’s 91, she’s very wise, she was in the war, and I asked her what she thought.

“She said: ‘Tell them that your mum, who’s a nurse for most of her life, always told you after your dad died to try to find a job you loved, just like I love nursing, and earn what you can, when you can, while you can…

“‘And tell them if your bosses don’t think you’re worth it one day, they’ll sort that out soon enough’.”

Chris has his own Radio 2 show.
Chris has his own Radio 2 show.

“So there you are – I’m going with what my mum said and that’s it… I thank my mum for advice, as always. I live by her word and I will die by her word.”

Chris went on to admit that he felt obliged to comment on the media storm that currently surrounds him, adding: “I don’t think you tune in to this show to hear us talk about these things but I had to say that this morning and had to be right and proper that I said that.”

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Read more:

[ The most shocking revelations from the BBC pay reveal ]

[ Stars defend shocking BBC salaries ]

[ How the newspapers responded to the BBC pay reveal ]