Did Endemol break the law on THE ONE AND ONLY?

Posted on March 4, 2008

Endemol, producer of hit BBC tribute act show The One And Only, may have broken the law by refusing to pay their contestants at least the national minimum wage, according the legal advice obtained by Equity, the performers’ union. Equity has raised this matter with the National Minimum Wage section of HM Revenue and Customs.

Endemol, producer of hit BBC tribute act show The One And Only, may have broken the law by refusing to pay their contestants at least the national minimum wage, according the legal advice obtained by Equity, the performers’ union. 

Contestants were obliged by Endemol to sign contracts which, among other things, waive their protections under working time laws and assign all rights in their performances to Endemol. According the Equity’s lawyers these are clear signs that the contestants are working as employees of Endemol and entitled to be paid. 

Andy Prodger, Equity Assistant General Secretary, commented: “Endemol are one of the biggest and most profitable independent TV producers yet despite numerous approaches by Equity they have refused to pay even the smallest possible fee to the 24 contestants which have made The One And Only such a big hit. 

“When the BBC produced their own talent shows, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria and Any Dream Will Do they acted honourably and engaged all the finalists on proper industry-standard contracts with pay rates well above national minimum wage and have agreed to do so again in the forthcoming shows I’d Do Anything, which hopes to cast parts in a forthcoming production of Oliver. Unfortunately Endemol is apparently happy to exploit the dreams of aspiring performers without offering them a penny. 

“I am very disappointed that the BBC, which is funded by the licence fee, allows such exploitation and doubt if the viewers who spent good money on telephone voting knew that none of the money would go to the performers who entertained them so well. 

“Equity has raised this matter with the National Minimum Wage section of HM Revenue and Customs, but Equity itself cannot take a case against Endemol. Any member involved in The One And Only who wants to make a complaint should contact Equity as soon as possible.” 

For further information contact: Andy Prodger Assistant General Secretary, Film, TV and RadioT 020 7670 0243  M 07754 104365  E aprodger@equity.org.uk 

Martin BrownHead of Communications and Membership Support T 020 7670 0259  M 07960 921527  E mbrown@equity.org.uk

For more coverage of this issue see the BBC news story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7276645.stm:/

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