Service resumed

We now know two out of three things unresolved as I took a short break. Gwyneth Williams is the new Controller of Radio 4 and 7/4 extra. BBC Breakfast is moving to Salford. Fabregas is still with Arsenal - and my guess is that he will stay for one more year.

The move of BBC Breakfast to Salford is a test for the corporation's personnel team on a number of fronts. In previous times in BBC News, the bulk of staff producing the programme rotated through various departments in the division, to limit their time doing nights on a show that didn't get watched by their bosses (who still tune to Today). Now, apparently, Breakfast staff can be specifically identified, and "offered" the move north. Their alternatives are to find their own internal BBC escape route, or risk redundancy - and they have less time to do it than all those fingered first.

The context is not good. Peter Salmon, Director of the North, is not moving, but will rent a flat for weeknights. The "revelation" that Adrian Van Klaveren, Controller of Radio 5 Live is doing the same is old news; producers on his network have known that for some time. Hayley Valentine, brought in to run 5 Live News Programmes on the understanding that she would make the move, has now found family commitments too much, and the hunt is on for a replacement. Peter Salmon's number 2, Richard Deverell, who lives in Guildford, has yet to announce his plans. Barbara Slater, Controller of Sport, lives in west London, and has so far only committed to a "full working week in Manchester" - so that's alright.

Many staff at lower grades facing the move to Salford don't have the income to leave a partner in London looking after children to ensure continuity of education; many of the staff facing the move to Salford don't have an option of alternative employment. And who will Salford-based producers turn to in that revered BBC process of "referring upwards" when a weekend editorial decision becomes tricky ? It currently looks like London every time.