Mixed reactions to BBC pay revelations

Reactions to the news of BBC figures' salaries on social media have been diverse.

Irish Twitter users mostly compared RTE salaries to those of the British broadcaster, suggesting that its Irish counterparts were overpaid:

RTE spent 127m on wages salaries. The BBC spent 193m on same. Relative size of companies means RTE wages way too high..

— Ruairi costello (@cosenergy) July 19, 2017

Jeez, ppl going mad in the uk over BBC salaries- they should see what RTE's "Stars" get ?

— Daniel Pitcher?? (@DanPitchside) July 19, 2017

#RTE exposed yet again on exorbitant salaries when compared to pay at BBC https://t.co/ZYwMidx5Oi via @broadsheet_ie

— Gemma O'Doherty (@gemmaod1) July 19, 2017

An intriguing element was the response to BBC Northern Ireland presenter Stephen Nolan's salary revelations.

so stoking up sectarianism and xenophobia for ratings is paid handsomely huhhttps://t.co/xVz9qyg7xi

— Rachel ? (@Rachelagain) July 19, 2017

That being said, the fact that Stephen Nolan gets paid roughly the same as Andrew Marr is the reason why the DUP have 10 MPs. #BBCsalaries

— Hallion Battalion (@thatweecafe) July 19, 2017

Among commenters on the island of Britain, some were at a loss as to who Nolan was:

Who the buggery bollocks is Stephen Nolan? #BBCsalaries #BBCpay

— Toni Heath (@TheToniHeath) July 19, 2017

Many commenters focused on the pay gap between male and female BBC employees, with the highest-paid woman Claudia Winkleman being paid 1.5 million pounds less than the highest-paid male Chris Evans:

All #BBCpay numbers are eye-watering. But to see so many extremely talented women paid less than male 'equivalents' is utterly infuriating.

— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) July 19, 2017

The BBC needs to put gender pay gap right asap (I'm happy to help out!). But what is gender differential of newspapers that are protesting?

— mary beard (@wmarybeard) July 20, 2017

Other commenters came to the defence of the BBC, arguing that the services offered by the broadcaster represented value for money.

What the BBC cost 20 years ago, what it costs today, and what you get for your money. #BBCPay pic.twitter.com/AD8jEYjla3

— Jack Monroe (@MxJackMonroe) July 19, 2017

Find it terribly hard to be offended by BBC salaries when the greatest broadcaster in the world costs a household less than 40p per day.

— Dave Phillips (@lovefutebol) July 19, 2017

Still others took a more humorous approach.

Charlie out of Casualty earns more than Doctor Who. Hmm. Probably the only nurse who earns more than a doctor. #BBCsalaries #BBCpay

— Nick Harrison (@harrisharrison) July 19, 2017

Just give Claudia Winkleman all the money and have Strictly on most of the year. Problemo, solvedo. #BBCsalaries

— Muireann O'Connell (@MuireannO_C) July 19, 2017

One of the more unusual contributions came from ex-Mrs Brown's Boys actor Rory Cowan, who didn't understand why there was a controversy:

When did we become so obsessed with what others earn? I'm only interested in what I earn, not what anybody else earns #BBCsalaries

— Rory Cowan (@1rorycowan) July 20, 2017

- Ryan Platts