'We want $1m per episode': Cast pay strike halts Big Bang Theory filming

Principal cast members’ move to fight for higher salaries of up to 1million per episode delays the work on The Big Bang Theory’s eighth series.

14:33 31 July 2014

Filming for the eighth season of the US series The Big Bang Theory has been delayed after principal cast members including Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar, and Simon Helberg did not return to work for the first day of production on Wednesday as they fought for higher salaries of up to 1million per episode each.

The Big Bang Theory is the most watched TV show in the US, with the average audience of 23.1 million in 2013-14.

In a statement, WBTV said: "Due to ongoing contract negotiations, production on The Big Bang Theory - which was originally scheduled to begin today - has been postponed."

The delay affected a “table read” – in which the cast would have run through the script for the comeback episode.

The Hollywood Reporters said that Parsons, Galecki, and Cuoco who currently earn $325,000 (£190,000) per episode and are seeking up to $1m (£584,000) per show.

The show’s producer, Chuck Lorre, is positive that the dispute will be settled. He said: "There are people at Warner Bros. Television and people representing the actors who have done this before," he said earlier this month.

"This will work itself out. I think it's great; I want them all to be crazy wealthy because nobody deserves it more than this cast. It'll work out."