This is an extract from current BBC guidelines on impartiality:
"The risk is lower where an individual is expressing views publicly on an unrelated area, for example, a sports or science presenter expressing views on politics."
Food for thought.

'However, I think that the BBC could do better in saving the £1 million pounds spent on Lineker and spend that on the BBC Singers that are about to be disbanded'

I have to agree with you. How can a talking head be worth that much?

I'd put money on the fact that the increase in audience for that edition was because folk simply wanted to see what they were going to put on instead of 'GL and Co'.

Personally, I've no interest whatsoever in Football, so couldn't care either way (from that perspective) but I just feel that a big mountain has been created out of the smallest of molehills.
I do, however, concur with GL that what this Gov't are saying/doing over the boat people is frankly 'obscene' and they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. But then he and his mates are really only Sports Presenters expressing their personal opinions - albeit publicly - on a political topic in an unrelated area to their 'professional' role.

Incidentally, I do also support the BBC Singers in their fight against disbandment - they've given the BBC many, many years of admirable service and support, and they deserve far better from the current management, who seem remarkably incompetent in their handling of 'contractors' (think Ken Bruce!). But the real responsibility for this decision lies ultimately with HM's Gov't in that they are the biggest bunch of philistines I've known in all my 70+ years! Not content with screwing over the Royal Opera company and forcing them to relocate (much against their will and better judgement by all accounts, the messing around with 'selling/not selling' Channel 4, etc.) they seem prepared to do their very worst to anything they perceive as 'creative' or artistic that they can't control - for their own benefit, and no-one else's!!

Whether Keir Starmer and his cohorts would/will be any better I know not, but I can't see them being (able to be) any worse!!

V Meldrew wrote on Mar 11^th, 2023, 5:01pm:


No discussion. Too much "sport", far too little music and the arts (other than a certain late night occasional and unwatchable indulgence that I can't abide). The BBC Singers, the orchestras, are a national treasure. Robin Boyle will be spinning in his grave.  Whatever happened to "Light Music"?   But I am only applying Savlon to a very seriously sore and possibly fatal  wound.
Quality went out of the windows of BH a long time ago. I weep for the standards of yesteryear.