Bottling

The BBC's top trio got a grilling of just over two hours from MPs on the Culture Select Committee yesterday. Here's my highlights.

Someone should tell Mark Thompson that holding a water bottle as a comfort blanket actually looks a little aggressive, especially with two heavies framed behind him.

Someone should tell Mark Thompson that defending the pay-off to his departing deputy Mark Byford (c£950k) by saying it could have been twice as big is not useful.

Someone should tell John Smith, boss of BBC Worldwide, that Lord Patten is increasingly uncomfortable about his pay package.

Someone should tell the 12 Heads of Regional and Local Programmes in England that Thommo's on their side. This may not hold, however. John Myers isn't.

And by the way, Lord Patten's a Gooner.