Outsider's point of view here, but given the average UK salary is approximately £25k, £45k minimum seems pretty reasonable to me. I, for one, would dearly love to be able to earn £45k doing a job I enjoy. I'm lucky if I even earn half that, particularly in the current economic climate.
£45k puts you in the top 10% of earners. Doesn't sound bad at all to me. You could probably afford to get a mortgage as well, unlike most of my generation.