More Baby Time Costs Natasha Kaplinsky £300,000

June 26, 2009 by Baby Chums
Filed under: Celebrity Baby News, News

Natasha Kaplinsky, 36, has agreed to a £300,000 pay cut to spend more time with her baby. Her £1 million pay packet will be cut by almost one third.

The UK, “Five News” anchor will let go of her 7pm bulletin, taking a £300,000 pay cut.

Natasha Kaplinsky’s baby Arlo was born eight months ago and she returned to work in February under the agreement that she would do the 5pm news but skip the later slot for a few months.

Now she plans to make the arrangement permanent with Five preparing to revamp its schedule with a new “poppy” early evening show aimed at younger viewers.

A source said of Kaplinsky: “She knows that she will not keep her big salary and she is not worried about that. It’s about getting the right work-life balance.”

Kaplinsky, who is married to banker Justin Bower and has been nicknamed “Spangles” for her highgloss, high-glamour image, announced she was pregnant in April last year, six weeks after her debut on Five News.

Last month she spoke out about being a working mother with a baby. She said: “I wish I were one of those people who didn’t have to sleep at all, because there’s always so much happening. I’ve always been excited to get up and do all the things I haven’t managed the day before.

“But all that’s on hold now, as my life has been taken over by a small person who requires a lot of attention and waiting on.”

“I thought those three and a half years of early shifts for breakfast TV - waking at 3.20am - would be great training for having a baby,” she said.

“Getting up for a bulletin is one thing, but getting up for a baby who gives me constant bulletins is another.”

Five has launched a hunt for new presenters to join the 7pm team.