SerpApi.Org
A dozen BBC NI presenters and journalists were paid for outside work over 12 months, it has emerged, amid scrutiny over ‘moonlighting’ by staff employed by the broadcaster.
Community correspondent Mark Simpson has emerged as the staff member with the highest number of outside gigs across the entire BBC, with weatherman and film-maker Barra Best at number three.
They are among 12 working for BBC NI who earned extra money in the year to the end of March 2026.
They acted as hosts, presenters or moderators at events organised by non-profits, trade groups, businesses and public relations companies, but also government departments and agencies.
BBC chair Samir Shah warned over the weekend the broadcaster is “going to factor that (outside work) into the deal we do with them” at their annual pay reviews.
“They make a lot of money out of presenting for the BBC, in my view. Maybe their view is they don’t. But they leverage… the fact that they present on the BBC [to get] gigs outside," Mr Shah told the Sunday Times.
The BBC on Tuesday said it had nothing further to add.
In total, BBC staff earned at least £657,000 in external payments from 550 outside engagements in the year to the end of March 2026, the UK Press Gazette reported, calculated based on the corporation’s own outside events register.
Staff in the north earned a maximum of around £80,000 from approximately 70 gigs. Mr Simpson attended 21 and Mr Best 15 over the year, according to the register. Fees are reported in bands, beginning with under £1,000 to over £10,000.
Most of the fees earned by the presenters and journalists based in the north were under £1,000.
The exceptions were between £1,000 and £5,000 to Mark Carruthers for an event organised by Causeway Coast and Glens council, William Crawley in connection with the Bar of Northern Ireland and Mr Simpson, who was paid within the same range to host an event organised by Consello, a financial advisory group, and by Morrow Communications.
None of the BBC staff listed on the register earned more than £178,000, the cut-off point after which salaries are published. Stephen Nolan earned over £400,000 and was the highest paid journalist across the BBC but reported no outside work.
Media commentator Tim McKane said the practice of BBC presenters and journalists taking outside work should not be a problem if they are delivering “serious messaging and information”.
“I would not necessarily be against it completely, but if it is just to add a little bit of celebrity to an event, then I would say no,” Mr McKane added.
“The BBC has created their celebrity and the questions arises should they be making earnings outside of that. If it is a serious message and going to attract more people no doubt it can be a good thing.”
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Mark Simpon’s outside events to the end of March 2026:
Morrow - £1k-£5k
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Newry Chamber of Commerce
Newry Chamber of Commerce
NI Hotels Federation
Business Eye
ABC Labour Market Partnership
Business in the Community
Export and Freight Magazine
Ni Fiscal Council
Newry Chamber of Trade and Commerce
Consello, Belfast - £1k-5k
Labour Relations Agency
Retail NI -
Queen’s
JComms
Lighthouse
Queen’s
Business Eye
NI Hotels Federation
Grow Consultancy
Barra Best’s outside events to the end of March 2026:
Business in the community
The Northern Trust
DfE
East Border Region
Project St Patrick
Newry Mourne and Down
North West Regional College
NOW Group
Belfast Met
Fermanagh and Omagh Council
National World Events
Aisling Events
Alpha Housing
Action Trauma
Ireland’s Next Top /chef
