Nice patten

The new BBC Chairman, Lord Patten, gave a poised and thoughtful performance in front of the Commons Culture Media and Sport Committee this morning (that despite some disrespectful Twitterers describing him as "morphing into Christopher Biggins"). He described the organisation as outstanding, but not perfect. Prodded on his view of the imperfections, he'll have cheered up insiders.

First, he said there were issues with the current "compliance culture", which was leading to "labyrinthine bureaucracy"; second, he said thinking about the BBC as a "brand" rather than an "ethic" had lead to a situation where some salaries were as high as at Barclays Bank, which was wrong and being corrected; and that while the BBC made great programmes, it sometimes conducted itself in front of other broadcasters with a "sort of swagger", which he would seek to change.

On top pay, he expected that the next DG will be paid less than Mark Thompson - but by how much depended on when Thommo moved on, and the field of candidates. On talent pay, he said in many ways the BBC creates the market - but couldn't also make the case that it has to keep up with it.

He also offered the stat that's he's made more appearances on HardTalk than anyone else, other than perhaps, Shimon Peres, according to Stephen Sackur.   It could have started so much earlier for Chris; he told the MPs he'd successfully applied to be a "graduate trainee" with Auntie in 1966, but turned it down for a gig on the staff of the Conservative Party.

• The MPs tried to "get" the Guv on what he watched and listened to; he batted down Eastenders, Radio 1 and 6Music (except when searching the dial for Radios 3 and 4) but confessed to the odd spot of BBC3.  We know why....