ANDREW Marr was paid at least £5000 for a Zoom call with a wealth fund, according to newly released documents that show how big businesses are employing the BBC’s leading stars.

The political interviewer – whose salary is £360,000 a year – received the extra 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 £5000 or more in the first three months of 2021, the public broadcaster has revealed.

A screengrab of Marr's call seen by the Guardian shows he hosted the paid external event from a meeting room in the corporation’s Broadcasting House headquarters while wearing a BBC lanyard.

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Responding to a question about Marr, a BBC spokesperson said: “We understand the logistical challenges brought on by the pandemic, but we would remind all staff there is a clear difference between using meeting spaces for BBC-related events compared to anything external.”

News Presenters Ltd, who represent Marr, told the Daily Mail: "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."

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 £5000.

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

Webb topped the league table of BBC stars with the most paid external events, receiving at least £20,000 during the first three months of this year for external work conducted on top of his £250,000 annual salary for hosting the Today programme.

He was paid at least £5000 for hosting a breakfast briefing for the City-based management consultancy Proxima, and similar fees from the financial services trade body CISI, the car manufacturers’ trade body SMMT and the wealth management magazine CityWealth.

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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 £5000-plus appearances as a moderator - at a January event with St James' Place Management and a March event with Co-op.

New Mastermind host Clive Myrie made three appearances in February, one of which had a total fee of more than £5000, as a presenter for Made In Manchester Productions.

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 £5000, with half of these under £1000. 

The list however only applies to staff, not freelancers, so the likes of Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker are not included. 

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

The new rules were introduced after a series of scandals including the BBC’s North America editor, Jon Sopel, giving a paid speech for the tobacco company Philip Morris, and the former editorial director Kamal Ahmed taking £12,000 to speak at a hedge fund conference.