OLBERMANN BBC RUMOURS

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Keith Olbermann has left MSNBC. Richard and Rhod will be upset. Rumours (begun by me) that he has been offered a daily “Bash Palin” segment on Radio 4’s Today programme have yet to be confirmed or denied. UPDATE 7pm. Distraught fans of left-wing polemic declare their intentions: Click through to read and contribute comments on this post.

IN THEIR DNA

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Peter Sissons has written a book about his time at the BBC. No surprises for readers of B-BBC, and my sources in the newsroom have been telling me these sort of anecdotes for 15 years or more. But finally, someone has broken ranks,and Mr Sissons conveys conviction. The BBC reaction, of course, will be wearyingly predictable; an embittered old man who has lost his marbles. The full article is here. … Continue reading →

COULSON – MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

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The BBC has been to the fore over many months to try and get the head of Andy Coulson – Cameron’s spinmeister. The Today programme has never missed the opportunity to sink the knife in. So I am sure there are celebrations at the Beeb that Coulson has resigned today. First Postman Pat (BBC meme – one of the good guys) and now Andy Coulson (BBC meme – forces of darkness) … Continue reading →

PLETT THE IMPARTIAL

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I thought that this was a good catch by a B-BBC reader on one of our favourites, the pouting Barbara Plett. Visit Barbara Plett’s statement in the fifth paragraph here to the effect that Middle East peace talks ended with “Israel’s refusal to reinstate a partial moratorium on construction”. I thought that Netanyahu had offered a three month extension but that the Palestinians had pulled-out (in addition to refusing to … Continue reading →

THAT BIASED BBC EXPERIENCE!

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One of the joys of editing this blog is the frequent emails I receive from so many readers. I do try to respond to as many as possible although  sometimes this can be tricky if I am away from BBBC central, as has been the case for most of this past week. Thank you all for the great and frequent contributions made publicly and sometimes privately. I wish I had … Continue reading →

Question Time LiveBlog 20th January 2011

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Tonight Question Time comes from Burnley, best known for the fact the more Bénédictine is drunk in one bar there, the Burnley Miners’ Club, than anywhere else in the world. LibDem Gordon Birtwistle, elected in 2010, is the first non-Labour MP for the area since the Great War. On the panel we have lone Tory and serial QT underperformer Caroline Spelman MP, Simon “The Straight Choice” Hughes MP, below average … Continue reading →

THAT JOHNSON STATEMENT

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Wonder how the BBC will handle the announcement from Alan Johnson that he is dramatically stepping down from his senior front bench job? He cites reasons in his personal life but there are no more details. Johnson is a BBC favourite so I assume there will be gnashing of teeth at this sudden news? For a while, I got the impression the BBC saw his as the successor to Gordon … Continue reading →

TERRY JONES BANNED – BUT ON TODAY!

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My goodness, has the Coalition taken umbrage against ageing Monty Python stars? Phew, no, not THAT Terry Jones but rather the US Pastor guy who had threatened to burn the Koran on the last anniversary of 9/11, to the chagrin of many. In my view, Jones is a nutter but in a democracy we must be tolerant of all views. I wondered what you thought of John Humphyrs interview with … Continue reading →