The BBC is facing criticism after it emerged that Jeremy Clarkson received a £3.2m payout from Bedder 6, the firm he set up with BBC Worldwide to profit from Top Gear, just before he received a ~£15m windfall by selling his 30% stake to the BBC.
The financial transactions have cast fresh doubt on the corporation’s business nous, particularly as they already pay Clarkson a reputed £500k a year to present the show, calling into question its payment policy for big name stars.
Clarkson claimed the money in the form of a £2.7m dividend for the 12 months to April 2012, in addition to a talent fee of £465k.
Bedder 6 was established in 2007 in partnership with Clarkson and Top Gear producer Andy Wilman as a vehicle for extracting additional profit from its Top Gear franchise.
The broadcaster is now unravelling that deal to take sole ownership, to the profit of Clarkson and Wilman.
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