Pay bands | Can employees be paid based on popularity?

Following the news that reality stars of ITV’s The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) threated to strike over their wages, it has emerged that they will now be paid based on their popularity.

According to The Sun, cast members will be placed into four pay bands with long-standing stars including Bobby Norris, James ‘Diags’ Bennewith, Chloe Sims and Georgia Kousoulou featuring in the top tier, which means that they’ll earn around £450 an episode.

Others will be paid £350, £250 or £90 depending on their popularity and whether they are a newcomer to the hit show proving their worth.

When the show was in its infancy after hitting TV screens in 2010, the reality starts earnt £50, which was eventually increased to £80 and then £100 an episode.