The BBC Trust’s review of how much the corporation’s star names are paid will not publish any details of its deals of star presenters such as Jeremy Clarkson and Graham Norton.
The trust said on Tuesday that the review, the first of its kind for five years, will examine how well the BBC has kept talent pay in check but would not make “specific editorial judgments”.
Consultants Oliver & Ohlbaum, who conducted the 2008 review, have again been appointed by the trust and will conclude their report by the end of the year.
Their report six years ago cleared the corporation of overpaying its presenters, who then still included Jonathan Ross, but criticised management for not being systematic or rigorous enough in negotiating individual deals and questioned whether its radio stars presenters were paid too much.
MPs later lambasted the salaries of its top radio presenters, saying the BBC appeared to be paying its star names twice the commercial going rate.