Silver bell

Axing a soap opera usually causes a backlash from loyal viewers and listeners, but there's no sign of one yet for Silver Street. Andy Parfitt, minder of the BBC's Asian Network, has announced that the daily five minute episodes are to end, to be replaced by a monthly "full-length" drama, which is described as "better value for money". It won't, of course, be better value for money for the regular cast of the show.

And the BBC closed the soap's message board at the same time as making the announcement.