BBC China editor Carrie Gracie quits her post as BBC China editor; slams the BBC over equal pay disparity and warns that the BBC's 'bunker mentality is likely to end in disastrous legal defeat and an exodus of female talent'.

The BBC's China editor Carrie Gracie who has made frequent appearances on BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256 / OVHD 112 / Cell C black 501) in her more than 30 year BBC career has quit her foreign bureau post, slamming the BBC over its pay disparity of paying women less than their male counterparts and saying the BBC has a "secretive and illegal pay culture".

Carrie Gracie exited the BBC last week as BBC editor for China in the BBC's Beijing news bureau and said she will return to her previous position in the BBC News newsroom "where I expect to be paid equally".

Carrie Gracie, in a post on her blog on Sunday, said that "I believe you have a right to know that the BBC is breaking equality law and resisting pressure for a fair and transparent pay structure."

In July last year, the BBC was forced to reveal the salaries of all employees earning more than £150,000 a year.

Carrie Gracie says she discovered that the BBC's two male international editors "earned "at least 50% more" than its two female counterparts.

The BBC's United States editor Jon Sopel earned £200 000 to £249 999, while the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen earned £150 000 to £199 999. 

Carrie Gracie earned less than £150 000.

Carrie Gracie says she's leaving her post as BBC editor of China "to speak out publicly on a crisis of trust at the BBC".

"On pay, the BBC is not living up to its stated values of trust, honesty and accountability," says Carrie Gracie.

"Many have since sought pay equality through internal negotiation but managers still deny there is a problem. This bunker mentality is likely to end in a disastrous legal defeat for the BBC and an exodus of female talent at every level."

"Mine is just one story of inequality among many, but I hope it will help you understand why I feel obliged to speak out."

"Up to two hundred BBC women have made pay complaints only to be told repeatedly there is no pay discrimination at the BBC. Can we all be wrong? I no longer trust our management to give an honest answer," says Carrie Gracie.

"Speaking out carries the risk of disciplinary measures or even dismissal; litigation can destroy careers and be financially ruinous. What's more the BBC often settles cases out of court and demands non-disclosure agreements, a habit unworthy of an organisation committed to truth, and one which does nothing to resolve the systemic problem," says Carrie Gracie.

The BBC media editor Amol Rajan said Carrie Gracie's resignation was a "big, big headache" for the corporation.

The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said Carrie Gracie's resignation is a "huge loss to BBC international news". 

Meanwhile BBC Women, a group of more than 130 journalists and producers at the BBC in a statement says "it is hugely regrettable that an outstanding and award-winning journalist like Carrie Gracie feels she has no option but to resign from her post as China editor because the BBC has not valued her equally with her male counterparts".

"We wholeheartedly support her and call on the BBC to resolve her case and others without delay, and to urgently address pay inequality across the corporation".

BBC World News changes: Jon Sopel ditches Global and moves to North America for BBC; Yalda Hakim the new main anchor of Impact.

On-air changes at BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 400): Jon Sopel is done with Global becoming the BBC's new North America editor, and Yalda Hakim is becoming the new face of the current affairs show Impact.

Yalda Hakim (left) who joined BBC World News in January 2013 as lead reporter on the Our World current affairs strand says she loves being out in the field "and I want to bring the Impact viewers with me".

"I am delighted that Yalda has agreed to become the main presenter of Impact," says James Stephenson, the head of news for BBC Word News in a statement.

"She has made an enormous contribution to the channel since she joined last year with her investigative reporting from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and elsewhere. She will continue to combine that work in the field with her new role".

Meanwhile Jon Sopel (right) is ditching Global to move to North America and will be reporting on North American stories for both the BBC's global and international output.

"This was the only opportunity that could have pulled me away from presenting on BBC World News, of which I have nothing but fond memories," says Jon Sopel.

"He will be a big loss to Global, which he has presented since its launch," says James Stephenson.

"I'd like to thank Jon for playing such an important part in the relaunch of BBC World News from our new studios, and I'm delighted that he will continue his association with us in his new role in Washington," says Richard Porter, the controller of English for the World Service Group in the statement.

"He and Yalda have been at the forefront of the changes which have been welcomed by viewers around the world. Yalda will be taking on a more prominent role as the main anchor of Impact, but she will still find time to continue her outstanding work as a film-maker and investigative journalist".

Stedman Graham, Richard Engel, Lester Holt, Jeremy Thompson, Jon Sopel, Komla Dumor in South Africa after Nelson Mandela's death.

Blink and you'll have missed him, but Stedman Graham, the partner of Oprah Winfrey showed up on South Africa television on Sunday in the church service broadcast on SABC1 where president Jacob Zuma addressed the South African nation following the death of Nelson Mandela.

Stedman Graham co-incidentally happened to be in South Africa when Nelson Mandela died - he arrived here a while ago to do a city-by-city tour through South Africa to discuss his Identity Leadership concept.

Stedman Graham could be seen sitting just behind and to the side of Mamma Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at the Bryanston Methodist Church in Johannesburg on Sunday morning.

Stedman Graham will likely remain in South Africa, and will most likely be joined by Oprah Winfrey in attending the memorial service and funeral of Nelson Mandela later this coming week.

Other international TV notables as part of the foreign TV correspondent influx who are now in South Africa due to Nelson Mandela's death include Sky News' (DStv 402) Jeremy Thompson who is already anchoring Nelson Mandela coverage.

Sky News' Stuart Ramsay has also travelled to South Africa and has gone to Qunu in the Eastern Cape to report from there. Of course Sky News Alex Crawford and Emma Hurd who are helping out, are based here.

South Africa's David McKenzie, CNN International's (DStv 401) correspondent in China has also returned home on Saturday and will be filing stories and covering Nelson Mandela news from South Africa during the upcoming week.

From CNN International coming to South Africa to report on Nelson Mandela's death and funeral week is Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper, with Isha Sesay flying in, as well as Arwa Damon and even Chris Cuomo.

Together with Errol Barnett, Robyn Curnow and David McKenzie, this gives CNN International the biggest correspondent reach within South Africa all dedicated to covering all angles and aspects of the Nelson Mandela story.

Travers Andrews is South Africa and based in Cape Town and is covering the news for CCTV News (DStv 409 / StarSat 403).

NBC News' chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel is here in South Africa as well, as is Lester Holt, who reported and anchored on Saturday night for the American newscast from Soweto. Brian Williams, the anchor of NBC Nightly News which can be seen on CNBC Africa (DStv 410) is on his way to South Africa and will anchor Tuesday and Wednesday's news bulletins from Pretoria.

From BBC World News (StarSat 400 / DStv 400) now in South Africa are Komla Dumor and Jon Sopel. Ros Atkins flew in last week meaning to go to Lesotho. When Nelson Mandela died he made a U-turn back to Soweto and is still here for the upcoming week.

ABC News in America has Alex Marquardt and Byron Pitts reporting from South Africa on Nelson Mandela.

Greg Palkot, the senior foreign affairs correspondent for Fox News Channel (StarSat 405), usually based in London, is in South Africa.

Al Jazeera (StarSat 401 / DStv 406) dispatched Mike Hanna and Jonah Hull to South Africa. Mike Hanna covered South Africa as a CNN International journalist during apartheid and the post-apartheid era. Jonah Hull is Al Jazeera's correspondent in London.

CBS News now has Allen Pizzey in Johannesburg, reporting for the CBS Evening News (which can be seen on Sky News.

Debora Patta from South Africa, reported for the CBS Evening News for the third night in a row from Johannesburg.

BEAUTIFUL. Now THIS is a news set; BBC World News unveils its striking new news studio with a massive circular design and huge video walls.

It's enough to give any TV broadcaster in the news business serious news set envy: the brand-new studio and brand-new sets of BBC World News (DStv 400 / TopTV 400) which the BBC's 24-hour global news channel unveiled and started using today from 14:00.

It's gleaming, it's wide, it's hugely circular with multi- massive video walls. This is the set of the brand-new weekday show Global with Jon Sopel which started today at 17:00 on BBC World News.

"We'd like to thank our director, our producers and everyone involved for getting us on air for our first half an hour. Not much of an acceptance speech, was it?" remarked Jon Sopel dryly at the end of the first half hour of the hourly broadcast (which of course came the day after Hollywood's Golden Globe Awards).

Below is the set with its "normal" red and white BBC World News look; but of course in a new way.

BREAKING. BBC World News launching a new studio next week with a new programming line-up and some new presenters.

BBC World News (TopTV 400 / DStv 400), the BBC's international 24-hour news channel, will unveil its dramatic new look next week when BBC World News will start broadcasting from its new studios in central London and shake-up its broadcasting schedule as well as introducing its new presenters.

The new BBC World News studio - Studio C as seen above and which viewers will see for the first time come Monday - will be much bigger; a massive circular and elliptical design with flowing lines, echoing the red and white BBC World News on-air logo.

ALSO READ: BBC World News to debut a brand-new title sequence, graphics, music and a new countdown when BBC World News starts broadcasting from its new studios on Monday.

"This relaunch marks the biggest change for BBC World News in at least a decade," says Jim Egan, the COO of BBC Global News Ltd. "It is part of a sustained commitment by the BBC to build on our long history of delivering high quality international news."

From 14:00 (South African time) on Monday 14 January, BBC World News will start to broadcast from the new state-of-the-art high definition (HD) studios in the BBC's new London headquarters, the redeveloped Broadcasting House.

BBC World News is the first English language TV channel to go live from the new building.

BBC World News will introduce the new BBC World News presenters Yalda Hakim as well as the new presenter Jon Sopel who is now going to be anchoring the brand-new weekday BBC World News international news programme entitled Global with Jon Sopel at 17:00 (South African time).

"BBC World News is kicking off the new year with an entirely new look and feel," says Richard Porter, controller of English for BBC Global News.

"From virtual reality capability to full HD production, new presenters and a programming line-up that goes from strength to strength, BBC World News audiences will have access to not only the best, most dynamic journalism in the world, but also the latest technology to enhance storytelling and to bring viewers inside the stories that shape our world," says Richard Porter.

Here is BBC World News's brand-new programming line-up which will kick in from next Monday 14 January with South African times:

Newsday (02:00, 03:00, 01:00)
HARDTalk with Stephen Sackur (06:30, 11:30, 16:30, 23:30)
GMT with George Alagiah (14:00)
Impact with Mishal Husain (15:00)
Global with Jon Sopel (17:00)
BBC Focus on Africa (19:30)
World News Today with Zeinab Badawi (21:00)
Business Edition with Tanya Beckett (23:00)
BBC World News America (01:30)

Jon Sopel joining BBC World News as one of the permanent new lead anchors; will present a new afternoon show from early 2013.

The BBC just announced that the BBC News presenter and reporter, Jon Sopel will join BBC World News (DStv 400 / TopTV 400) as one of the 24-hour British news channel's permanent new lead anchors.

Jon Sopel will present a new afternoon show on BBC World News which will start early in 2013 from the BBC's new home at New Broadcasting House in central London.

Jon Sopel is currently one of the lead anchors at the BBC News channel in the United Kingdom where in the past few years he has anchored coverage from the Middle East during the Israel Lebanon war, Sri Lanka after the tsunami, New Orleans after Katrina, Beijing for the Olympics and South Africa for the World Cup.

Jon Sopel has also served as the Paris correspondent for BBC News and has reported on the Eurozone crisis and from the riots in Athens. He's also travelled extensively in the United States in the last two presidential campaigns and is currently in America covering this year's presidential campaign.

"I am absolutely delighted to be joining the channel to create a new show at a time when BBC World News is going from strength to strength, both in terms of investment and ambition," says Jon Sopel in a just-issued press statement. "I just can't wait to get started."

"We're delighted that such a well-respected presenter as Jon Sopel is joining the BBC World News team," says Richard Porter, the controller of English, global news at the BBC. "He has a wealth of experience, from his international reporting from Paris and the United States. I'm sure he will be a great addition to the team."