The Guardian's "mediamonkey" reports..

Christmas has been cancelled at the BBC. Not entirely, you understand – there will still be the comedy Christmas idents, and festive editions of your favourite TV shows which are never quite as funny as the regular editions. But the staff Christmas party allowance has been scrapped. Last year it was halved from £50 to £25 for each member of staff to reflect the tougher times we lived in. This year the times are even tougher so it has been scrapped altogether. Parties are still allowed, of course, just not at the expense of the licence fee player - corporation staffers will have to stump up for the drinks themselves. Make Monkey's a "Sachsgate" - an explosive cocktail with a bitter aftertaste that you can still feel the effects of 12 months later.

Source:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2009/oct/19/christmas-cancelled-...