I have just read Ed Harris's book, featured in this month's Prospero.

It is a real hoot, and a fascinating look at the bit of the Beeb that was truly accountable to the licence payers. I could not put it down, and loved the anecdotes.

Anyone else read it and have a view?

Anyone not read it? Shame on you!

Alan Lafferty

Can  thoroughly recommend this new book by Ed Harris  Its been written with an authoritive and amusing insight  to this unique side of the BBC  and I should kow after being a Duty Offce Manager for 8 years !

I too have read Not In Front Of The Telly -- and chuckled, often ruefully, all the way through. It does show with humour and grace how dedicated members of the BBC staff valiantly struggled to offer a useful and worthwhile service to the licence payers despite the relentless success of the senior management in making a mess of everything. Indeed it probably almost justifies some of the Daily Mail's paranoia against the BBC! Ed and his publishers are to be congratulated on their open yet diplomatic insight into the one bit of Aunty most licence payers were most likely to encounter...but I'd love to hear the stories they dare not print! Worth every penny of the cover price and a perfect present for anyone who's ever toiled for Aunty. CHRIS BATES (a Press Office inmate for 11 generally happy years).