Let's remember how we got here: in January 2013, all BBC local stations in England were obliged to take The Mark Forrest Show between 7pm and 10pm on weeknights, unless they had live sport to cover. The measure was estimated to save £1m in total across 40-odd stations. In January 2014, figures suggested ratings for the slot had fallen by more than half a million, to 1,166k a week.
In September last year, managers were given eight weeks' notice to find replacements for the All-England Show, with most stations given funds for a 'community producer' to find new shows. Most stations went for a mix of amateurs and semi-professionals, covering a range of topics across five nights. There was a notable emphasis on 'diversity' - as indeed, there used to be on weekday evenings before 2013.
Now Chris Burns has turned what was already happening into a strategy, with open auditions promised from all 40 stations. Perhaps there should be transparency about potential fees. Say these 40 'community producers' are on £25k - that's your million gone....
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