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from www.metro.co.uk

Channel 4's chief executive will pocket £1million this year – despite a huge drop in profits and the controversial Big Brother race row and phone quiz scandal.

Andy Duncan's £622,000 salary will be boosted by a £149,000 performance bonus and £375,000 loyalty handout.

The news came as the station revealed that profits fell 70 per cent to £14.5million last year.

Spending on current affairs, religious and educational programmes was also cut.

Mr Duncan, who has been at the channel for three years, faced calls for his resignation earlier this year over the handling of the Celebrity Big Brother race row.

The station also came under fire after it was revealed that viewers were urged to call Richard and Judy's You Say, We Pay competition even though potential winners had already been chosen.

An inquiry has been launched and the quiz has been dropped.

Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson called for more Government money for the station as he defended Mr Duncan's pay packet.

He said: 'We need to retain the best talent if Channel 4 is to continue to perform as well as it has done. These peoPay rise: Andy Duncan ple do not come cheap.'