Jonathan, thought to be the BBC’s highest-paid star, is one of several BBC figures whose pay packets have come under scrutiny as the corporation prepares to make thousands of people redundant.

The star and BBC1 chat show host was on holiday for five of the weeks within the period for which the figures were collated.

A Radio 2 spokeswoman said: "Historically Jonathan’s figures dip in the summer months as he takes a break - and typically listening figures are lower for Radio 2 in this period.

"Jonathan’s show is still the most popular radio show in that slot with an audience of over three million listeners."

But director general Mark Thompson is reported to have ruled out slashing the salaries of its big, celebrity names for fear they will defect to ITV.

Graham Norton is thought to have a £5 million contract at the BBC, while Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles is reportedly paid £630,000 a year.

Sarah Kennedy, who worried listeners in August by slurring her way through her morning Radio 2 show, is down 150,000 from the last quarter but only down by 10,000 year-on-year to 4.51 million.


Jonathan cleared over Nigella comment - July 19 2007
The BBC has cleared Jonathan Ross of breaching standards by referring to Nigella Lawson as a "mother I’d like to f***".

The presenter told the TV cook she was a "Milf" during an interview on his BBC one chat show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.

He did not spell out what the acronym stood for - but many viewers would have been aware of its meaning.

In the same interview, broadcast in December 2006, Jonathan insulted vegetarians by saying "serve them f***ing right" when Nigella mentioned they would be unable to eat a Christmas dinner containing roast potatoes cooked in goose fat.

He also stated that if anyone offered him goose for Christmas lunch he would "s*** on their couch".

A viewer complained to the BBC about the use of "unacceptable foul language and inappropriate references".

But the corporation’s editorial standards committee did not uphold the complaint, ruling the comments and use of sexual innuendo were "part of a litany of grotesque over-reactions which derived its comic effect precisely from its outrageous exaggeration".

The committee said that when referring to Nigella as a "Milf", Jonathan "did not spell out what the ’f’ actually stood for... this kept it within the bounds of acceptability for that audience in that slot".

This is not the only time Jonathan has used the phrase - he described Madonna as "the original Milf" during the BBC’s Live Earth coverage.

BBC under fire over stars’ pay - July 4 2007
The BBC came under fire for the salaries of its top-rated stars like Jonathan Ross - as it was pointed out that its director-general earns four times more than the Prime Minister.

The salaries of BBC executives are in the public domain, but the corporation has refused to divulge how much its talent such as Chris Moyles and Ross get paid.

Speaking at the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, Conservative MP Nigel Evans called for the salaries of BBC celebrities to be made public.

He said that everyone knew how much the Prime Minister (£188,931) and a Home Secretary (£137,579) earned a year.

He added: "The director-general of the BBC earns £788,000, that’s four times above the Prime Minister. I would see that as a badge of honour for yourself."