BT opens wallet to sign Beeb’s Jake Humphrey
A FTER a breakthrough 2012 that saw him shine as one of the lead anchors of the BBC’s Olympic coverage, the Beeb’s Formula 1 frontman Jake Humphrey has been snapped up by BT to present its Premier League offering from next season.
Humphrey’s signing is the latest big money move from BT, after it shelled out £738m for the rights to 38 top-flight football games a season and £125m for an exclusive Aviva Premiership rugby union licence. BT is rumoured to be paying Humphrey a salary of £250,000 on the four-year deal, which starts in January.
Talk that Humphrey’s BBC counterpart Gary Lineker was due to sign up to BT has apparently failed to materialise.
The Capitalist understands that the 33-year-old Humphrey will be able to work for the Beeb in his spare time, although his Formula 1 days appear numbered. Humphrey joined the sports team at the BBC in 2005 having presented the network’s children’s TV programme The Saturday Show.
Humphrey said he was “incredibly excited” to sign up, adding: “To be a part of this young, vibrant team who are as passionate about sport, as I am, is a privilege.”