Adam Sherwin, Media Correspondent of The Times, says press leaks about the salaries earned by its top DJs will be a major embarrassment to the BBC - and could set off a new inflationary spiral.

How embarrassing to the BBC is the leaking of these salaries? How has the Beeb responded?

The salary leaks are a major embarrassment to the corporation because it is currently seeking a licence-fee increase of 2.3 per cent above inflation. The Treasury will be reluctant to award the BBC more cash simply to line the pockets of celebrities. The BBC has always been secretive about talent salaries refusing Freedom of Information requests to release details citing "commercial confidentiality". The corporation has chosen not to comment on the figures quoted, some of which are more accurate than others. An urgent investigation is under way but there may be more than one culprit now feeding a newspaper demand for more figures.

Who has most to gain from the leak?

Critics of the licence fee can now cite proof that the corporation is using public money to compete with commercial rivals rather than fulfil its public service remit. Talent agents will exploit the information to negotiate better deals for "underpaid" BBC stars creating an inflationary spiral. Commercial radio stations, already suffering under the Radio 2 steamroller, have used the leaks to call for greater scrutiny over the BBC's spending. The leaker, possibly a disgruntled former staffer, has presumably been rewarded for passing on the information.

Will the public be bothered? Could it affect the licence fee debate?

Because the likes of Terry Wogan and Jonathan Ross entertain millions of fans, they are unlikely to suffer personally. But the Government could write into the BBC's new ten-year Royal Charter a requirement that it does not enter into a bidding war for talent with ITV and Channel 4. Ministers have already ordered the BBC to stop bidding for Hollywood films. The BBC's spending is likely to come under proper scrutiny. Is the £1.4 billion extra it says it needs to cover "super-inflation" costs caused by its own salary arrangements?

Are there any individuals on the list who should be particularly happy or unhappy about the details?

Pete Tong is philosophical about apparently being the worst-paid Radio 1 DJ, saying that the figures have been "sensationalised". Veteran broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has seen it all before. "I'm used to it. Chris Evans got paid more for his first year presenting the Radio 1 Breakfast Show than I received over 18 years at Radio 2," he says. Ken Bruce looks particularly good value for money, however, in the salary/listener test.

Could we now see a star bidding war or maybe any changes at the BBC?

A commercial radio station could offer Terry Wogan or Chris Moyles more money but as market leaders why would they give up the platform offered by the BBC? ITV has already abandoned £1 million golden handcuffs deals for drama stars who failed to deliver ratings. Jonathan Ross is among an elite group of stars for whom any channel would bid - but the BBC can also be guided by Doctor Who, which demonstrated that a hit format is more valuable than a transient leading star.

For how long have Beeb personalities earned superstar salaries? How do they compare with counterparts in the private sector?

Since Morecambe & Wise, BBC stars have fled to the "other side" for more cash. The BBC believes it must compete financially in expensive areas like sports rights and entertainment talent. It signed big-money deals with Channel 4 stars Johnny Vaughan and Graham Norton but with variable results.

Ant & Dec, said to earn £3 million a year at ITV, are the biggest bankers in entertainment but the BBC might once have sought to lure them away. The corporation may now have to come clean about salaries or pay the staff who are supposed to keep such matters confidential more money to secure their loyalty.

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