‘We were lucky to have her’ - Jeremy Irons defends £800,000 payout of ex-Bath Spa University chief

Hollywood actor Jeremy Irons has defended the controversial payout of Bath Spa University’s former vice-chancellor.

Irons said the university “made more out of” Professor Christina Slade than “she made out of Bath” when she stepped down as vice-chancellor in 2017, taking with her a final year package of more than £800,000.

The Oscar-winning actor, 70, made the comments in his capacity as chancellor of Bath Spa during a tour of their new Theatre Workshops.

Bath Spa University paid Professor Slade £429,000 when she stepped down from the role in August 2017, on top of her annual salary of £250,000, according to the university’s financial statements.

She received an additional £89,000 in pension contributions, plus a housing allowance of £20,000, and further £20,000 for “other benefits in kind”, bringing total payments up to £808,000 for the 2016/17 academic year.