After Radio 1 presenter Greg James was finally freed from his controversial "kidnap" stunt, it emerged that BBC bosses reportedly paid £10,000 a night for his luxury stay.
The DJ had been holed up in a secret room with no windows, unaware of where he was, having been bundled into a car after the BRITs afterparty for 48 hours.
Greg stayed at one of London's most expensive hotels paid for by license fee payers, reports The Sun.
He was "locked up" at the swanky Shangri-La hotel at The Shard.
And the luxurious suite he stayed in features body-contouring beds, marble bathrooms, heated floors, room service and plasma screen TVs.
Radio 1 told the publication they paid for the room but insisted they got a discounted rate.
For normal guests, the suite would have cost a whopping £10,000 per night.
James Roberts of the Taxpayers’ Alliance told the publication: “When the BBC is complaining about funding cuts and sacking staff, stunts at the Shard should not be top of the shopping list.”
And BBC spokesman said: “We’re delighted that millions of listeners were involved with Greg’s latest Radio 1 adventure, highlighting our position as the UK’s No1 radio station for young people.”
The stunt saw listeners being given various clues and called in to help solve them - eventually decoding the hints and revealing he was at the top of The Shard, London.
Greg, 34, was on the 39th floor, and when he opened the door of the room at last, he was met by his kidnappers - Mollie King and Alan Carr.
He was sealed in a box in the Shangri-La Hotel, with Mollie's motivation being revenge for another hide and seek challenge on the radio station last year where he duped her.
Alan's reason? "I hate you," he told Greg.
"I'm doing this out of malice and spite."
The trio posted a selfie on Twitter, Greg looking a little bemused and dishevelled, understandable considering he had only a small wash basin since the BRITs afterparty.
He said: "What a weird 24 hours it's been, I'm still in the same clothes I was in yesterday."
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