Expenses

The latest BBC quarterly expenses figures are out.

My highlights: King of the Minicab Bal Samra rocked up £1337.62 over three months. I've seen deals where you could lease a BMW 330d automatic for £855 over three months, leaving you some headroom for fuel and insurance.

BBC Films' Christine Langan managed to spend £3895 on a return flight to Toronto; boss Alan Yentob was much more circumspect with planes, but spent £174 on entertainment associated with The Space; £46.69 on The Arts, and £92.25 on Hay.

Director of Strategy and Digital James Purnell managed a trip to LA for something over £2k, and rejected the Hollywood Standard boutique hotel for The Elan boutique hotel. Director of Future Media Ralph Rivera's return trip to LA at around the same time came in at closer to £3k; he was in The Elan already.

Director of BBC North managed a June trip to LA and San Francisco, staying at the Mondrian, amongst others, but the only flight claimed is from San Jose to LA.  He also needed to buy chargers, at £50.

TV drama chief Ben Stephenson also made it to LA, in September - £2412.45 return.

Danny Cohen spent £40 on flowers for someone, which he thought worth claiming.