Jollity Farm

BBC Director of Radio, and Queen-Elect of England, Helen Boaden may have been a bit too plain with NUJ representatives over a one-day strike by members working for the Asian Network in Birmingham.

According to the website BizAsia, she told the union side "“If the strike’s not a jolly, then why don’t you call it off?” I find myself imagining this in the tone of Joyce Grenfell as Sgt Ruby Gates in the Ealing Studios version of St Trinian's, though that makes it even harder to understand its import.

The dispute is over moving the drivetime show fronted by Bobby Friction to London, which apparently is more efficient than operating from Birmingham, and cutting an Editor post.

A BBC spokesperson told BizAsia “The Asian Network has undergone a staff restructure, prompted by the BBC’s ongoing efficiency savings. Of the two editors based in Birmingham, through a voluntary redundancy process we now have one. With the other remaining Editor post already based in London, in order to rebalance the programme responsibilities, one show is therefore moving to London. However, the station still broadcasts much of its output from Birmingham. We have conducted a thorough consultation process with the union over the post that is closing so it is disappointing they have chosen to take this action. No on-air output will be affected.”