Andrew Marr was paid £5,000 for Zoom call with wealth fund from BBC offices, documents show 

Andrew Marr was paid at least £5,000 for a Zoom call with a wealth fund, newly published documents have revealed.

The political interviewer received the sum for hosting an event, from the BBC offices, for investment management firm Brewin Dolphin in March. 

Justin Webb and Emily Maitlis are also among the BBC presenters who took on external work earning them £5,000 or more in the first three months of 2021, the corporation has revealed.

Since January, on-air talent in current affairs, sports news and some radio staff have for the first time had to declare external work which includes paid-for public speaking engagements, appearances or writing commitments.

The financial disclosures have been published as part of the BBC’s first staff external events register, which covers January to March 2021, and fees are listed as either below or above £5,000.

The register does not provide details of the specific financial amount at the higher level.

Pictured: Andrew Marr on a Zoom call with wealth management company Brewin Dolphin

Emily Maitlis is among the BBC presenters who took on external work earning £5,000 or more in the first three months of 2021, the corporation has revealed

Mishal Hussain is also registered as taking a fee above £5,000 for an event on March 25.

Emily Maitlis (left) is among the BBC presenters who took on external work earning £5,000 or more in the first three months of 2021, the corporation has revealed. Mishal Hussain (right) is also registered as taking a fee above £5,000 for an event on March 25.

News Presenterd Ltd, who represent Andrew Marr, told MailOnline: ‘Andrew Marr would normally have done this from home but in order to accommodate a late recording request it had to be done in a BBC office prior to the recording.’ 

Mishal Hussain is also registered as taking a fee above £5,000 for an event on March 25. 

Radio 4’s Today presenter Webb made the most higher-tier appearances with a total of four – including for management consultancy firm Proxima and City Wealth Magazine. 

Newsnight’s lead presenter Maitlis also made a higher-tier appearance in March, hosting an event for business law firm Mason Hayes and Curran.

Breakfast host Dan Walker made two £5,000-plus appearances as a moderator – at a January event with St James’ Place Management and a March event with Co-op.

Since January, on-air talent in current affairs, sports news and some radio staff have for the first time had to declare external work which includes paid-for public speaking engagements, appearances or writing commitments

Since January, on-air talent in current affairs, sports news and some radio staff have for the first time had to declare external work which includes paid-for public speaking engagements, appearances or writing commitments

Radio 4's Today presenter Webb made the most higher-tier appearances with a total of four - including for management consultancy firm Proxima and City Wealth Magazine

Radio 4’s Today presenter Webb made the most higher-tier appearances with a total of four – including for management consultancy firm Proxima and City Wealth Magazine

Fellow Breakfast host Naga Munchetty ticked the higher box as an interviewer during an event hosted by events company Fane in March.

New Mastermind host Clive Myrie made three appearances in February, one of which had a total fee of more than £5,000, as a presenter for Made In Manchester Productions.

Andrew Marr was paid at least £5,000 for a Zoom call with a wealth fund, newly-published documents have revealed

Andrew Marr was paid at least £5,000 for a Zoom call with a wealth fund, newly-published documents have revealed

The number of paid events undertaken by staff has increased month-on-month since January.

The BBC said that around 85% of the appearances fell below £5,000, with half of these under £1,000.

Staff must seek written approval from a divisional head of department before signing up to any external engagements.

New director-general Tim Davie announced the move in October as part of a series of measures aimed at ensuring the broadcaster’s impartiality.

The corporation had faced criticism of presenters including Munchetty and North America editor Jon Sopel for taking on other paid work.

The BBC has also introduced new rules regarding its employees’ use of social media, which alongside new training, aim to ‘ensure the highest possible standards of impartiality across the organisation’.

The rules tell staff working in news, current affairs and factual journalism production, such as Countryfile, The One Show and Woman’s Hour, and as well as all senior leaders, that they may not reveal how they have voted or express support for any political party.

BBC’s STATEMENT ON THE EXTERNAL EVENTS REGISTER

BBC staff declare additional paid-for work in new events register

The BBC has today (Tues) published its first staff external events register, as part its commitment to the highest standards of impartiality.

On-air talent in news and current affairs, sports news and radio journalism roles – plus senior leaders – must declare earnings from work undertaken outside of the BBC, including speaking engagements or corporate events.

Through a new standardised process, introduced on 1 January, staff must seek written approval from a divisional head of department before signing up to any external engagements. A summary of these approved events will be published every quarter. The first iteration of the register covers January to March 2021.

To ensure transparency, those staff who undertake a paid-for engagement are named in the register, alongside the organisation involved and whether the fee was above or below £5,000.

Around 85% fell below £5,000, with 50% of these under £1,000. The register includes full-time and part-time staff.

The BBC’s robust and longstanding Editorial Guidelines permit staff to carry out additional engagements as long as they do not compromise the integrity or impartiality of the BBC.

The register was announced last October and launched in January, as part of a series of measures to ensure the highest standards of impartiality across the organisation. New staff guidance on impartiality and social media use was published last year and new impartiality training was rolled out in January.