Mr Big may have peaked

Monday, we are told, sees the 'launch' of the all-new BBC News Output department, under clean-cut, fast-talking Gavin Allen. In a missive to staff, he lists the 39 operations that will come under his command, with a total headcount of 1,200.

Leading from the front, he writes "We need to work even more closely together to ensure we're packing the maximum journalistic punch with the minimum process headache. We have to make our original journalism, analysis and breaking news reporting unmissable across the board, wherever audiences consume their news. In short, we need to provide the biggest bang BBC News.[sic]"

It's never a good idea to start with a headcount declaration, when you haven't quite nailed the cuts needed for the next financial year. The Sunday Times reports plans to produce Newshour (usually at 9pm GMT) on the World Service and The World Tonight (at 10pm) on Radio 4, with the same team and the same presenter. There is already some interchange between the teams, but this is a step too far for old Beeboids. Former Editorial Director Roger Mosey, now at Selwyn College Cambridge, says “The World Tonight is one of Radio 4’s flagship programmes and it would be a loss for listeners if it could no longer tailor its content to British audiences.”

I can't believe they'll go through with this. Having presented both programmes for more than 20 years, I know how utterly daft the idea really is. https://t.co/SUTBX0pimR

— Robin Lustig (@robinlustig) November 4, 2018

More of a fading whimper than a bang - and 39 operations down to 38 for Gav.