samkydd

Why pay her so much? It's not as if she gets her clothes off or anything!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Dame Starry

......but, samkydd, that's what is so damned clever about it! She's a woman who has found a way of making a fortune WITHOUT mammoth silicone implants and/or removing a stitch of clothing!

Now, that's intelligence!

YDSL x.

The Christmas countdown has begun - don't leave it all until the last minute!

julian_craster

Channel Five deserve this - for not employing a £1 million per annum autocue reader who is female and aged 50 + .......


Baby joy for Kaplinsky – but are Five chiefs happy?
Baby joy for Kaplinsky – but are Five chiefs happy? - Scotsman.com News
By Stephen McGinty


NATASHA Kaplinsky, who six weeks ago became the face of Five News on an annual salary of £1 million, making her the richest news presenter in Britain, is three months pregnant, the station confirmed yesterday.
While Ms Kaplinsky, 35, was said by friends to be "ecstatic" about her latest good news, it is not known how senior management feel at the prospect of losing their high-profile signing to maternity leave.

Yesterday, the station insisted it shared in its new employee's good fortune. Chris Shaw, senior controller, said, through teeth that may or may not have been gritted: "Natasha has had a tremendous impact and we're delighted to hear the fantastic news about her pregnancy."

It is understood Ms Kaplinsky, who is married to Justin Bower, an investment banker, told the channel last week after passing the 12-week stage, prior to which few women announce a pregnancy in case of miscarriage.

A friend of Ms Kaplinsky was yesterday quoted as saying: "She could not be happier but obviously the timing could have been a bit better. But she will be able to spend much of the day with her baby and go to the studio later. She had no idea she was pregnant when she joined but they seem relaxed about it."

The exact terms of the newscaster's contract with Five have not been publicly disclosed, but it has been reported that she signed a three-year contract for £1 million a year, or about £20,000 a week. Under the government's new maternity laws she is entitled to 90 per cent – or £18,000 a week – for the first six weeks of her maternity leave. After that she, along with every other new mum in Britain, may drop down to the standard rate of £112.75 a week.

Her announcement comes at a time of debate about maternity leave for high-profile women. Sir Alan Sugar, the entrepreneur, has insisted employers should be entitled to ask female staff if they plan to start a family.

Ms Kaplinsky, 35, who married her husband two-and-a-half years ago, just five months after they met on a blind date, has spoken often of her desire to have children. She said she discussed the matter with Five before joining the staff.

Last night Iain Ferguson, policy executive with the CBI Scotland, said: "Employers fully support their employees who take time off on maternity leave to start or extend families. For those women who earn extremely high salaries and take maternity leave, it must be remembered they earn these salaries because they are key members of staff who contribute significantly to the running of the business and have every right to such leave."

Ms Kaplinsky has proved immensely popular with Channel Five viewers, with programme ratings up by 72 per cent since she took over a month ago. The broadcaster said during her first month on air after the 18 February launch of Five News with Natasha Kaplinsky, the show averaged
847,000 viewers, with a 6.7 per cent growth in audience share compared with last year.

The move to Five marked the latest move in a career that has seen Ms Kaplinsky make an almost complete tour of UK news networks. Since being picked to present the early morning news at ITV Meridian in 1997, she has worked for ITV London, Sky News, BBC Breakfast and then the station's Six O'Clock News. Her popularity was boosted further when she took part in the first series of Strictly Come Dancing, a role she was almost bullied into taking.

A spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "Everybody is entitled to maternity leave and statutory maternity pay. A lot of employers who are keen to attract the best people offer enhanced maternity deals so you get six months off on full salary. She may not be entitled to millions. It's whatever agreement has been reached."


The full article contains 665 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Last Updated: 02 April 2008 9:46 PM

Moor Larkin

... ......

I love these blokes who churn out this sort of absolute cobblers.

stevie boy

Just to say that I find this lady very attractive with a good personality and she is very professional.

Harleybloke

with great legs........................!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

batman

And lovely eyes ....

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

dremble wedge

But Emily Maitliss has the edge for me...

Moor Larkin

oH dear lord, here we go again

julian_craster

Nice eye candy, but do you digest/take in what she says (i.e. the NEWS.....) ?

Amethyst_Isle

I would Just like to say that I find Natasha Kaplinsky very attractive with a good personality and she is very professional too...........














Plus I would not turn her out on a very cold night.

There's a lot of dignity in that, isn't there? Going out like a raspberry ripple.

Edward G

Quite agree, Dame Starry.
Kaplinsky is class. Smart and sexy, professional and polished. Natural glamour in an age of cheap smut.
I hope the nay-sayers enjoy watching her replacement while she is on maternity leave - sneak preview below :

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

Amethyst_Isle

I will tune into the other channels when that happens and when Natasha comes back I will rejoin her channel Oooooooooer missus.

Hey!! what is so wrong with cheap smut anyway.

There's a lot of dignity in that, isn't there? Going out like a raspberry ripple.

Marky B

I have nothing against her - she does her job,is drop dead gorgeous and sexy with it. Similiar thoughts about Katie Derham and the girl who does to the 1.00pm bulletin on BBC1.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

batman

Any excuse for a picture of Katie Derham .....



And for all fans of female newsreaders ....

Emily Maitlis - Female newsreaders - Pictures - TV & Radio - Virgin Media

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"