Alan Davies reveals a 25% BBC pay cut

The actor Alan Davies has offered fans an insight into the cost-cutting taking place at the BBC and said he was worried about production standards.

"Just had a 25 per cent pay cut on Jonathan Creek," he wrote online. "The BBC are 'driving down talent costs'! And the design budget has been cut by more than half... It does worry me, and absolutely it will affect the show."

He added, in a shot at BBC executives: "I'm all for 'driving down' exec costs."

BBC presenters including Sir Terry Wogan, Bruce Forsyth, Graham Norton, Chris Moyles, Jeremy Clarkson and Jeremy Paxman were all told in June to expect pay cuts when their contracts were renewed as part of cost-cutting plans.

The Corporation has drawn up proposals to cut the salaries of its highest paid staff – those who earn more than £100,000 a year – by one-quarter. Nearly 400 BBC executives earn more than £100,000 a year and 711 managers are paid over £70,000. The national average salary is £24,907.