MATTHEW FOX - PAY BUMP FOR LOST STAR FOX

PAY BUMP FOR LOST STAR FOX

The lovely ladies of Wisteria Lane are able to command a fairly hefty pay packet – and now Lost star Matthew Fox has worked his per-episode wage up to their level.

Fox, who plays Jack Shephard in the series, has negotiated a big pay bump for the show's fifth season. He will earn $225,000 (£121,000) an episode, the same as the Desperate Housewives stars are believed to earn, the Hollywood Reporter says.

It says all the lead stars of Lost's ensemble cast were brought up to $80,000 (£43,000) an episode in January 2006. Fox received a bonus of at least $250,000 (£134,000).

Now, with its producers at ABC Studios keen to keep the winning team in place, Fox will be earning nearly that amount per episode.

The fifth season of Lost is expected to premiere in late 2009. But the show's future is not open-ended; last year ABC announced only 48 more episodes, spread across three more seasons, would be made.