Bialik, Rauch renew 'The Big Bang Theory' contracts

Actresses Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch are the last cast members to finalise deals for the remaining seasons of hit TV show "The Big Bang Theory".

Bialik and Rauch finalised their deals with producer Warner Bros. Television to stay with the Chuck lorre comedy for what is envisioned as its final two seasons, reports variety.com. 

According to sources with knowledge of the negotiations, the deal will pay Bialik and Rauch $500,000 per episode for 48 episodes. 

The deals are believed to include a separate development component for both actors. A representative for Warner Bros. Television declined to comment.

CBS renewed "The Big Bang Theory" in March for two more seasons after finalising deals with the show's original five cast members - Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg - who are each set to earn $900,000 per episode. 

Those five actors each took a $100,000-per-episode pay cut from the $1 million that each had been earning in order to free up additional money for Bialik and Rauch's raises.

Bialik has earned four consecutive Supporting Comedy Actress Emmy nominations for playing Amy Farrah Fowler, girlfriend of Sheldon Cooper. Rauch's Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz is a fan favourite whose marriage to Howard Wolowitz, and birth of their first child, has been a central storyline for the show's past three seasons.