Appraisal

Actor David Westhead, who plays BBC News boss Neil Reid in W1A, tells the Radio Times he's made the big leaving speech, in character, for a departing BBC hack manager.

“I got a curious phone call when I was on the train after the first series, and somebody said, ‘Oh, hello, it’s so-and-so from the BBC and we were just wondering, we’ve got a senior news executive who’s leaving now after 25 years of service, would you come and give the farewell speech?”

“So I said, ‘Of course,’ and they said, ‘Just say whatever you like.’"

“I didn’t really know who this person was, so I said, ‘He’s been f***ing useless for the last 25 years.  Clear your desk now, look at your computer screen it’s absolutely empty, you’re a disgrace!’"

“They loved it!”