Have you ever been on a (really, really) bad date and had an argument over the gender pay gap? Or had a fight about it with one of your male mates who just doesn't believe it exists? If you're a woman, then the answer is probably yes. Even though it undoubtedly exists the world over, there are a lot of people who still think the fact women are generally paid less than men is a myth forged in the school of feminism.
A Glassdoor survey of workers in seven countries conducted in 2015 found that seven out of 10 people believe men and women are paid equally for equal work. That's even though the United Nations predict that the gender pay gap is at 23 per cent globally. And in this country - while it might be illegal to pay sexes different wages for the same jobs under the Equal Pay Act - according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, the gender pay gap here stands at 18.4 per cent for full-time and part-time workers.
Anyway, if you're looking for another easy, relatable example to cite the next time you have this argument, the TV industry has only gone and done it again. After the BBC wages scandal in 2017, which saw men take up nearly the entire list of it's top earners, ITV are alleged to be up to the same tricks. The Sun is reporting that the male judges on Britain's Got Talent - Simon Cowell and David Walliams - are on over double - yes, double - the money Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden are earning.
That's even though Amanda, 49, is technically head judge after Simon, 61, injured his back earlier this year. And - with the exception of Simon, who helped create the show and can therefore justify raking in the bigger bucks - they are all doing the same job.
Amanda is thought to be on around £700,000, while Alesha, 42, is on approximately £450,000. The paper are reporting that David, 49, is on a re-negotiated contract worth over £1.5m and that TV's Mr Nasty, Simon, is thought to be on over £2.5m a year. Sources have told the publication that Simon wasn't aware of the massive pay gap - and will help push pay-rises.
Hopefully, Simon will do something to sort the discrepancy - not only ensuring Alesha and Amanda are paid equally, but the same as David. But that doesn't explain how and why it's happened in the first place. Alesha and Amanda have been on the show for years, and there's no doubt they're a key part of the format's success. As Amanda herself said in an interview with Stella magazine last week: 'Why is their value higher than ours? I don't understand it. I know they bring something, and [referring to Simon Cowell's absence after his injury] I think we've now proven that the jigsaw doesn't work with a piece missing.'
Talent deals might be decided on an individual basis between production company Thames, ITV and the artist's agent - that is what an official statement established in response to this story - but there doesn't seem to be any explanation as to why the women are paid so much less than David. It goes without saying that no man should be paid double for doing the same job as a woman. Especially in 2020.
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