Carrie Gracie quits as BBC China editor over gender salary gap

Carrie Gracie, 55, has resigned from her job as BBC China Editor over the network's "illegal and secretive" pay culture.

Miss Gracie, who has worked for the BBC for 30 years, wrote a scathing 1,400-word open letter on her blog declaring "enough is enough" and accusing the corporation of widespread pay discrimination. She was immediately supported by scores of prominent BBC figures, including Emily Maitlis, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Jane Garvey. 

Addressing the open letter to the BBC audience, she wrote: "With great regret, I have left my post as China editor to speak out publicly on a crisis of trust at the BBC.

"The BBC belongs to you, the licence fee payer. I believe you have a right to know that it is breaking equality law and resisting pressure for a fair and transparent pay structure."

This morning, Carrie Gracie guest edited BBC's Radio 4's Today show where she said she was "moved" by the support she has received after quitting her BBC role in a gender salary row. She thanked her supporters, but said she doesn't want to be remembered "as the woman who complained about money".

Due to her responsibilities as a guest presenter on the BBC radio programme this morning, Carrie was unable to speak freely about her decision. But her co-host John Humphrys mentioned it.

While finishing the news bulletin co-host John Humphrys, who earns £600,000 per year, said: "And the big story in all the papers pretty much, the resignation of somebody called Carrie Gracie as the BBC's China editor. It's the main story in The Times, front page of The Sun, The i and so on. And at this point given that Carrie is here..."

Miss Gracie interrupted him, saying: "What's happening next John? Where are we going from here?"

Mr Humphrys carried on: "...And given that you are sitting next to me in the studio, perhaps listeners will expect me to do a really tough interview with you about that bombshell letter. But the BBC has rules on impartiality which means that presenters can't suddenly turn into interviewees on the programmes they are presenting."

Miss Gracie replied: "Well, that's a relief."

Mr Humphrys continued: "Maybe, but you are going to be doing an interview here on Women's Hour on Radio 4. Just a quick though, you know the rules..."

Miss Gracie replied: "We're not doing an interview but you're going to ask."

Mr Humphrys asked: "The reaction has been quite a big one hasn't it?"

Miss Gracie said: "It has. It's been very moving actually. Two things have really struck me and moved me most is the scale of the feeling, not just among BBC women but also across the country and internationally - the support that I've had. 

"I think it does speak to the depths of hunger for equal pay. What was also lovely was the amount of people mentioning my China work. I would not wish to be remembered forever as the person who... the woman who complained about money..."

Mr Humphrys interrupted: "Too late, too late."

Miss Gracie added: "I want to be remembered as the woman who did some fine China work and enough people are saying that to feel that it will not get buried as a result of this."

Last night, the journalist said she and her female colleagues have felt "trapped" since the controversial pay disclosures last summer, and that the BBC has "attempted a botched solution" to address the gender pay gap. She also revealed that she has left her position in China and will instead return to her role in the BBC News Channel newsroom in the UK where she said she "expect[s] to be paid equally".

BBC Women, a group of more than 150 broadcasters and producers, said: "It is hugely regrettable that an outstanding journalist like Carrie Gracie feels she has no option but to resign from her post because the BBC has not valued her equally. Up to 200 women that we know of in various grades and roles have made pay complaints."

Hundreds of senior BBC women have pledged their support for Miss Gracie. After the news broke #IStandWithCarrie trended on Twitter as social media users and fellow BBC staff showed their support for the broadcaster.

See Twitter reactions below.