Two per cent hike agreed

Writers of BBC TV comedies are to get a two per cent pay rise next year.

The increase is twice the current rate of inflation – although the Bank of England has predicted that will rise to 2.7 per cent next year. 

It means writers of a half-hour TV sitcom will now be paid £5,370 – with sketches worth £109 a minute. Children’s TV sketches pay £89 a minute.

Typically these fees are doubled as an advance against future income from repeats, overseas sales and DVD and on-demand releases.

The deal was struck with the Writers’ Guild Of Great Britain, whose acting general secretary Ellie Peers said: ‘We successfully argued that screenwriters are worth every penny invested in them and that investing in writers helps ensure that the BBC can continue to produce high quality comedy and drama.’

The new rates took effect on November 1.

Published: 3 Nov 2016