"People will die because of the BBC decision, let me be clear about that" Tony Benn In the midst of the BBC's latest PR disaster, let's just remember for a moment the noise and sackings surrounding the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand affair. Compare this to the scale of the current situation where the 'increasingly isola…

As Ricky Gervais' celebrity-culture bashing (and brilliant) Extras finale scores 5.3m viewers, Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn - as a guest editor on the BBC Today programme - has called for celebrity culture to be "dismantled". The cry comes as a recent in-house poll suggests the public are tired of the BBC's focus on celebrity and reality TV, after a year in which th…

After 16 weeks in solitary confinement, Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist held hostage in the Gaza Strip since March, has been released. Watching him now in the press conference, it's hard to imagine the kind of wise soul it takes to survive such an ordeal and be so articulate and honourable in the aftermath. "It's hard to believe how amazing it is to be free" F…

  It was a comedy classic that amassed a cult following and scooped six Baftas, only to be shelved for two decades. Now, as the BBC finally contemplates Tutti Frutti's return, the original cast members have branded the broadcaster's decision to run it on BBC4 a disgrace. Described by one cast member as the best series ever made in Scotland, the six-part comedy drama which pr…

"We don't want to be overzealous, a lot of the material on YouTube is good promotional content for us" Ashley Highfield BBC clips - including The Mighty Boosh, Faulty Towers and Planet Earth - will finally be available in an embeddable, flash player for people to put in their blogs and websites legally after the broadcaster announced today a substantial deal with YouTube…

  The BBC Trust - replacement body for the BBC Board of Governors - have released the first drafts of a series of Service Licences. The TV related service licences have been published on the BBC Trust website. Each TV, radio or on-line channel operated by the BBC will have a document stating the channel's aims and objectives. A formal review process will make certain that  futur…

  Racist Murder Evidence Airs Tonight On BBC 1 9.00pm A BBC documentary has exposed fresh evidence on the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. According to a programme airing tonight, a senior officer in the case is alleged to have accepted bribes from a suspect's father.

  "When we work together, we're unstoppable..." - Thompson The BBC's Director General Mark Thomson last week spelled out for BBC staff his vision for the Corporation's future. In a rapidly changing broadcast world, the UK's biggest broadcaster faces immense challenges, not least of which is convincing licence fee payers and the government of the case for m…

    Massive Top Job Shake-up Splits the Beeb Into Three A big shake-up of BBC production and commissioning is to elevate director of television Jana Bennett to take control of all audio-visual content. Four new "super commissioners"will also be created, who will report to her. This and associated changes at the top will carve the BBC into three, split between jou…

  "The BBC, if it is not independent, is not worth tuppence of your licence money." BBC chairman Michael Grade has defended the corporation's independence at the Governors' Annual General Meeting. Questioned as to whether party politics affected the broadcaster Grade said "The BBC is like China. It has been invaded many times but it has not been conquered." He…

  BBC Comedy is joining forces with the Corporation's film department to develop a slate of comedy feature films utilising the best of UK writers, performers and producers. David Thompson, head of BBC Films, and Kenton Allen, creative head of Comedy Talent and Comedy North will lead the development initiative, along with head of comedy Jon Plowman. The initiative will explore the pot…