Jeff Randall to Present Special Sky News Documentary - What is a Banker Really Worth?

First TX: Sky News, Wednesday 22^nd February, 7pm

LONDON, Tuesday 21^nd February 2012: This Wednesday at 7pm Sky News will broadcast a special Jeff Randall documentary: What’s a Banker Really Worth? The documentary will then be followed by a half hour programme of live debate and analysis hosted by Jeff at the Sky News studio in the Gherkin.

The documentary sees Jeff investigate the thorny issue of bankers pay in a time of economic downturn.  He travels to Edinburgh where he visits the RBS world headquarters and the boardroom in which Fred Goodwin had to break the news to directors that the bank was bust.  He also visits Alistair Darling at his Edinburgh home, who says that during the crash of 2008 bankers ‘did not know what they were doing’.

Jeff also talks to leaders in the banking industry who speak candidly about remuneration. Interviewees include RBS Chairman, Sir Philip Hampton, who says the high-water mark of bankers’ pay has passed, and Sir Nigel Rudd, former Deputy Chairman of Barclays, who says that in his opinion John Varley, former Chief Executive of Barclays, was not actually paid enough and that David Cameron should ban the use of the word ‘fairness’ in relation to bankers’ bonuses.

Jeff also interviews a small business owner struggling to get bank loans and some students about to embark on a career in banking.

Chris Birkett, Executive Editor of Sky News said: ‘This programme sees Jeff Randall gaining an inside look at the banking industry and the money paid to the staff at the top. Jeff speaks to the people inside the industry to get their view on executive pay, and how they respond to the vitriol faced by the banking world. This is a hard hitting honest documentary and Jeff doesn’t shy away from asking the awkward questions the public want to know.’

Jeff will be joined live in the studio at 7.30pm by Lord McFall, former Labour Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, John Purcell of executive search firm Purcell & Co, Alpesh Patel, Chief Executive, Praefinium Partners the asset management company and live from Washington DC, Bob Sicina, former head of American Express Bank.

What’s a Banker Really Worth will also be available on Sky Anytime and Sky News for iPad.

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For further information and images, please contact:

Lucy Ellison – lucy.ellison@bskyb.com /020 7032 2112

Charlotte Reed – charlotte.reed@bskyb.com / 07920027829