MORSE'S pounds 2.5m HANDCUFFS; Carlton deal makes Thaw Britain's

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Feb 27, 2000 | by ANDREW BUCKWELL

INSPECTOR Morse star John Thaw has signed a pounds 2.5 million deal, making him Britain's highest-paid TV star.

His new "golden handcuffs" contract ties him to ITV for two years and follows attempts by the BBC to poach him.

Last night he told the Sunday Mirror: "It makes me very happy to have done the deal. It means continuing to work with the people I have enjoyed working with for a long time."

Thaw, whose deal is with Carlton TV, is understood to have been angry when Carlton rejected his proposal for a second series of his new show Monsignor Renard, which is to be screened next month.

The BBC opened talks to get him to leave but Carlton reacted swiftly.

The deal puts Thaw above stars like Joanna Lumley on pounds 1.5million-a-year, inclusive of advertising earnings, and David Jason and Robson Green, who each earn pounds 1million a year.

Nick Berry is on a pounds 3million two-year deal but the contract is with his production company to make the series Harbour Lights for the BBC. Thaw begins filming the final episode of Morse a week tomorrow.

An insider said: "Carlton were desperate to keep John. They see him as the jewel in their crown."