Brace yourself

There's a weight off his shoulders. Or is it a weight loss round the middle ?  This week outgoing BBC DG Mark Thompson has been on jovial form, with the Candle of Multi-Platform Public Service Broadcasting handed safely to young Jedi George. Thommo, normally tie-less, has taken to wearing wide and obvious braces and loud ties.

Is he channelling Lou Grant, ahead of a stint at the New York Times ? Or is CNN looking to replace Piers Morgan ? Whatever, the consensus in the BBC is that Thommo's Going West - at least style-wise.