Top male BBC stars agree to salary cut after gender pay controversy

The BBC reported Friday that six of its highest-paid male broadcasters have agreed to take pay cuts after revelations of a gender divide in salaries.

The BBC said in a statement that the public service broadcaster was “very grateful” to Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson, and Jeremy Vine for agreeing to reduce their salaries.

“These are great journalists and presenters, who have a real connection with the audience. We are proud to have them working at the BBC,” the broadcaster said.

Details of the voluntary salary cuts were not announced.

WATCH: BBC reveals gender pay gap among top stars

1:47 BBC reveals gender pay gap among top stars

The BBC was embarrassed last year when a list of top earners showed that two-thirds of the best-paid workers were men. Many men also were also found to be receiving much larger salaries than women in comparable jobs.

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The BBC’s China editor, Carrie Gracie, quit this month to protest what she called a failure to address the pay gap. Gracie did not appear on the list of BBC staff members earning at least 150,000 pounds (USD $214,000) a year.

Humphrys, 74, a popular host of the influential Radio 4 morning news program, said the wage cut was his idea.

“I’ve been at the BBC for an awfully long time and I’ve been paid very well and I’m not exactly on the breadline,” he said.

WATCH: BBC editor quits China post over pay discrimination

0:45 BBC editor quits China post over pay discrimination