Richard Breakspear  
By email to [[FOI #9496 email]] 
 
27 March 2009 
 
Dear Mr Breakspear 
 
Freedom of Information request – RFI20090455 
 
Thank you for your request for information, received 18th March 2009, in which you requested the 
following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”) 
 
“the break down of salary paid to celebrities for their part in comic relief live show. eg  Johnathan Ross, 
Davina McCall and so on?” 
 
First of all, I should explain that Comic Relief is an independent charity, and as such is not covered 
by the Freedom of Information Act. The Act applies only to information held by the BBC, not to 
information held by Comic Relief.  
 
Also, please note that the BBC and the other public service broadcasters are covered by the Act 
only in respect of information held for purposes “other than those of journalism, art or literature” 
(see Schedule I, Part VI of the Act). We consider that the information you have requested is not 
covered by the Act as it is held for the purposes of making the appeal night programme. However, 
on this occasion we’re happy to respond to your request. 
 
Outside the scope of the Act, both the BBC and Comic Relief are happy to confirm that no fee 
was paid to the celebrities who presented the Comic Relief live show (Comic Relief – Funny for 
Money), i.e. Fern Britton, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, David Tennant, Claudia Winkleman, 
Graham Norton and Alan Carr on the main show and Reggie Yates, Fearne Cotton and Noel 
Fielding on Top of the Pops. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Appeal Rights 
The BBC does not offer an internal review when the information requested is not covered by the 
Act. If you disagree with our decision you can appeal to the Information Commissioner. Contact 
details are: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, 
SK9 5AF telephone 01625 545 700. http://www.ico.gov.uk/ 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Rachel Hallett 
Advisor, Information Policy & Compliance 
 
 

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