Carrie Gracie: fight for equal pay at BBC 'worse than breast cancer'

Carrie Gracie: The BBC employee quit her role at the broadcaster over in protest at inequalities at the broadcaster
PA

Carrie Gracie has described her fight for equal pay at the BBC as “worse than breast cancer”.

The journalist said she believes she will never be given a major presenting job at the corporation again.

Gracie, former BBC China editor, had accused the corporation of having a "secretive and illegal pay culture".

Carrie Gracie: The former China editor had said the dispute was not about the money
AFP/Getty Images

Speaking to the New Yorker magazine, Gracie, who was treated for cancer in 2011, said her battle for equality was "definitely worse than breast cancer".

She added: "The stress comes from all the judgment calls along the way."

She also said she accepted that standing up for herself would have an impact on her future career.

"I will not ever get a big flagship programme now," she said. "You can't be seen to be rewarded for the trouble you've caused."

She will donate the funds to gender equality charity The Fawcett Society.

Earlier this year Gracie, who is still employed by the BBC, told MPs that the corporation treated women who spoke out about pay disparity as "the enemy".

Since then dozens of the BBC's staff have been sharing their salaries on secure spreadsheets to ensure colleagues are not underpaid.

Lucy Bailey, a producer on Newshour, told the New Yorker that the process was helping to "empower" staff.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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