Terry Wogan

[Caran]

Just watched this programme on his career, I loved the man, I actually cried when he died. I feel bereft after watching this.

[Bobbisox1]

I like the soft Irish brogue and the mischievous twinkle in his eye, he was a good presenter I think

[naomi24]

//Terry Wogan said he "never asked for a fee and would quite happily do it for nothing".

But the BBC said it had "considered it appropriate" to pay him a " noncommercial" fee.

"This fee has never been subject to negotiation," it added. "It is paid by the BBC and does not come from the funds of the BBC Children In Need Appeal Charity.

...a report in the corporation's internal magazine Ariel said: "Terry Wogan will waive his fee for fronting the BBC Children In Need Telethon."//

https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/terry-wogan-waives-his-ps9-000-fee-for-children-in-need-6648423.html

A bit of a storm in a teacup.

[pat2604]

Meant to watch it and forget to. Hopefully on catch-up! A great favourite in our household and will always be missed. Loved his humour. Never read any media about his personal life.

[naomi24]

//This thread is brought to you by Wrigleys //

It gives us something to chew on.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - If the BBC considered it 'appropriate' to pay Wogan, why did it not consider it 'appropriate' to pay every other member of its staff, who worked for free, as a matter of principle?

And since Wogan either never bothered to check the sources of his income, or had so much money sloshing around that the odd eight grand could simply be missed, shouldn't his accountant have asked him if he was happy to receive four figures as one of the wealthiest participants on the night?

Or maybe considered how it would look, when it came out eight years later.

[naomi24]

AH, don't ask me - ask them - that's if they'll speak to you.

[douglas9401]

"shouldn't his accountant have asked him if he was happy to receive four figures as one of the wealthiest participants on the night?"

Aye, because that's the primary function of accountants and the very first thing they learn at sums skool.

Christ.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi, I couldn't care less.

He was either a hypocrite, too rich by half, or badly advised, or permutations of one or several.

Either way, it doesn't matter, beyond expressing a personal view that he was over-rated, and not really deserving of the hagiography, which may be why his former employer has never offered one.

[naomi24]

Haha! Whatever he was - in your opinion, AH - he was highly successful.

[gness]

Loathing certainly means hating....and as for "calm down, Mamya"
Really? Mamya? :-)))

[royfromaus]

He did for over 20 years why shouldn't he get paid. Most of the other celebs paid a fleeting visit and possibly appeared on the show to show they were still available.

[andy-hughes]

roy - // He did for over 20 years why shouldn't he get paid. Most of the other celebs paid a fleeting visit and possibly appeared on the show to show they were still available. //

It's not the other celebs that matter - all the crew and staff involved worked for free on the night, and all of them earned less in a month that Wogan earned in a week.

That is why his payment is unacceptable, as was his 'excuse' of not being aware of it.

If you droppped eight grand into the acounts of any one of the BBC staff who worked for free on the CIN night, they would notice!

[naomi24]

He didn't negotiate a fee... and for someone like him eight grand could very easily be dropped into his account without him noticing. His accountants took care of his finances.

[royfromaus]

Surely the staff are on a set salary?

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // He didn't negotiate a fee... and for someone like him eight grand could very easily be dropped into his account without him noticing. His accountants took care of his finances. //

No argument there - but maybe, as I have advised, someone at the BBC should have considered that paying a wealthy and high profile employee when others are working for free, would not make the corporation or the employee look good, were it to be revealed, as indeed it didn't.

And as I have pointed out, maybe the accountants could have thought how it would look if payment was revealed, and suggested to their client that he may wish to waive the fee?

And the excuse of 'I didn't realise I was being paid ...' from a publicly funded corporation employee looks crass and arrogant.

So no winners there then.

[naomi24]

AH, //And as I have pointed out, maybe the accountants could have thought how it would look if payment was revealed, and suggested to their client that he may wish to waive the fee? //

You're dreaming. Accountants are paid to handle finances - and that's what they do.

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // AH, //And as I have pointed out, maybe the accountants could have thought how it would look if payment was revealed, and suggested to their client that he may wish to waive the fee? //

You're dreaming. Accountants are paid to handle finances - and that's what they do. //

That's why I used to word 'maybe' - I am simply putting forward a scenario.

You really must learn to read my posts more carefully - they are written in clear concise English, your failure to either read them properly, or understand them when you have read them, is something for you to consider.

[naomi24]

AH, I read your posts and I would like to say your naivety astounds me - but it doesn't.

[andy-hughes]

AH - // AH, I read your posts ... //

Just not closely enough not to be in error regularly when you reply it seems.

[gness]

Concise, Andy? Can't quite agree with that. :-)

Concise :

Giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words; brief but comprehensive.