BBC Breakfast viewers fume as they issue same complaint over salary row

BBC Breakfast fans were left fuming during a segment examining a comprehensive review of the water industry, which has recommended scrapping regulator Ofwat and establishing a single, more robust governing body.

The landmark once-in-a-generation assessment has suggested that the current system overseeing water firms across England and Wales requires a complete overhaul, proposing one unified authority for the UK and a separate entity for Wales.

Presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent interviewed Water Minister Emma Hardy on Monday, July 21 following Sir Jon Cuncliffe's damning assessment on BBC Breakfast, where he declared that water watchdog Ofwat "has failed".

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This comes amid proposed bill increases from water companies, with some customers facing rises of up to 30% over the next five years.

The duo also grilled David Henderson from Water UK, representing the water companies, questioning why Southern Water's chief executive pocketed a total remuneration package exceeding one million pounds, reports the Express.

Yet despite widespread outrage over water company executives commanding such enormous annual salaries, some viewers couldn't resist highlighting the apparent double standards of Sally and Jon criticising these pay packets.

One viewer took to X, previously Twitter, writing: "Presenters who get paid £250k a year to read an autocue, horrified at how much people are being paid in the water industry."

Another chimed in: "I wonder why the people on the TV, movies etc need to be paid as much as they do. For example, is being a tv presenter such a special job that requires a salary of £250k? especially when that is largely paid from compulsory license fees (tax)."

A third concurred: "The irony of 2 presenters on 250k for a 3 day week complaining about water company pay."

A fourth remarked: "It's quite something to see David Henderson from @WaterUK justifying the pay of water company bosses.

"Any service that was once a publicly run service should not command a salary higher than the Prime Minister. End of."

According to the BBC 2024/2025 salary report, Jon pockets between £240,000-£244,999, while Sally takes home a tad less at £200,000-£204,999.

Catch BBC Breakfast every weekday morning at 6am on BBC1.