Tim bits

Disappointingly few additional column inches about new BBC DG Tim Davie in the Sunday press.

Not much about his time as a swordsman, fencing at Selwyn College, Cambridge. Or the heady days of his mid-twenties, in charge of flogging Pepsi in the UK, while also contesting, unsuccessfully, Council seats in Hammersmith & Fulham for the Conservatives. In 1994, the Tories lost control to Labour.

Now we wait for signs of the Davie Cabinet. Clearly, there's a vacancy at BBC Studios. Insiders put  Mr Davie's wingman, CFO Tom Fussell in pole position, but diversity might help here - which could nudge Berkhamsted cafe owner Lisa Opie into the frame. Might another go be had at bringing Jane Turton in from All3 Media ?

It would be nice to reward Director of Content Charlotte Moore with a bigger and better title, but Davie would be foolish to move her. How does Tim get on with Jim is the big question. Mr James Purnell has an unwieldy portfolio, and is not cutting through on the digital front, either with BBC Sounds, BBC Ideas, or, frankly BBC Arts. Tim and Jim speak the same slightly garbled language of innovation, etc. Is there really room for them both, or is an alliance already forged ?  And who will Tim turn to as the engine room strategist to deliver the mid-Charter review, etc ? 

For News, where Lord Hall put all cuts proposals in the tray marked "Too Difficult", the anxiety is that Tim can see easy efficiencies, and doesn't have the old DG's tribal loyalties. Early conversations with Director of News Fran Unsworth, and her Purnell-favoured No 2, Kamal Ahmed, will be important.