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Emily Maitlis and Dan Walker among staff on BBC external earnings register

Emily Maitlis is the host of BBC's 'Newsnight'. (Getty Images)
Emily Maitlis has earned over £5,000 from corporate events outside the BBC. (Getty Images)

Emily Maitlis and Dan Walker are among the top profiteers revealed in the first BBC external earnings register.

The list — which aims to ensure impartiality — requires on-air talent in news and current affairs to declare paid work they do outside of the BBC, such as public speaking and corporate events.

Newsnight host Mailtis, political journalist Andrew Marr, and BBC Breakfast's Walker and Louise Minchin are all among those to have earned more than £5,000 for external events.

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Radio 4 The Today Programme presenters Justin Webb, Mishal Husain and newsreader Clive Myrie are also on the list of staff earning more than £5k for work they have done outside of the broadcasting corporation in the first quarter of 2021.

Naga Munchetty (PA)
Naga Munchetty presents 'BBC Breakfast' and is not afraid to speak her mind. (PA)

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty, The Today Programme's Martha Kearney and Newsnight's Emma Barnett have received less than £5,000 for external events.

Maitlis' paid public engagements include hosting an event for business law firm Mason Hayes and Curran in March.

Marr earned more than £5,000 for hosting a corporate event for investment management firm Brewin Dolphin.

Dan Walker (PA)
'BBC Breakfast' host Dan Walker must remain impartial, just like all BBC journalists. (PA)

Walker has made two appearances that paid him more than £5,000 including an event with consumer group the Co-op.

New Mastermind host Clive Myrie made three appearances in February, including presenting an event for Made In Manchester Productions which earned him over £5,000.

The BBC said around 85% of the appearances were for less than £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.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 21: BBC News presenter Clive Myrie at the Edinburgh TV Festival on August 21, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ken Jack/Getty Images)
Clive Myrie is a BBC newsreader and new host of 'Mastermind'. (Getty Images)

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

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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 stipulate that 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.

The BBC - which is funded through the public TV licence fee - has been publishing a list of it's top earning stars for several years, with Match Of The Day's Gary Linekar currently at the top.

With additional reporting by PA.

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