Technically...

Old school BBC engineering types will note that the BBC's new Chief Technology Officer, Matthew Postgate, boasts a BSc from Bristol University - in politics. He's also a graduate of the Stanford Business School, presumably with support from Auntie, achieved while he was running BBC Research and Development.

Meanwhile BBC Worldwide's Director of Digital, Daniel Heaf (BA Geography, Nottingham) is leaving to join a growing number of Beeboids at Burberry, where former BBC finance and Worldwide boss, John Smith is Chief Operating Officer. Ever-well-groomed John is taking the company into the skin-care market this year.

Dress sense

BBC Director General Tony Hall (right) on tour at BBC Radio Foyle in London/Derry tonight, with station editor Larry Deeney (left). Funnily enough, I think Alan Yentob usually looks smarter in his jacket/combat trouser/trainers combination.....

2130 Update: There he is. He was only hiding....

Uniform

The BBC Trust says Countryfile broke guidelines on Product Prominence, when two presenters wore the same branded clothing - RAB - in two editions in November and December.

Twitter indicates some of the presenters love clothes.

@cress2s the orange one will never retire! watch out for it in Gloucestershire in a couple of weeks. #tangoglow
— Julia Bradbury (@JuliaBradbury) November 19, 2012

Checks

Followers of natty John Smith, who left the BBC last year and is en route to Burberry will be delighted to learn that he's making do with a basic salary of £575k with his new employer. However, if he meets targets, there's a bonus of £3.8m. And he gets additional cash allowances for a car and threads.

He'll be called Chief Operating Officer, but really replaces Chief Financial Officer Stacey Cartwright, whose package this year was worth £3.2 million.

We'll have to wait to July to see what sort of farewell settlement John got from Auntie.

Cat walk

As the clock ticks to towards midnight, and managers move in to run BBC News for 24 hours, let's hope BBC Creative Director Alan Yentob is blasting through to a useful shift. A little earlier this evening, he was spotted in the front row of Paul Smith's offering for London Fashion Week.

Earlier this week, Alan opined on the return of James Purnell to the BBC, as Director of Strategy and Digital, after his sojourn in more overt politics. "He was one of the few Government ministers who you actually found going willingly to exhibitions and concerts all the time", said Al, and, more cryptically, "By bringing audience under one roof, it allows us to develop a more intuitive digital strategy".  That must be good, mustn't it ?

Smooth operator

The well-turned out John Smith, who has departed the BBC, should remain booted and suited in style for some time; he's been appointed COO of the Burberry Group, where he has been a non-executive director since 2009.

No salary has been disclosed. His package at BBC Worldwide in 2011/12 delivered a whopping £898k in base pay, bonuses and enhanced pension payments - and as a long serving member of the original BBC Pension Scheme, there's no embarrassment of a cap to his monthly payments when he takes them.

Circles within circles

Tonsorial

What's going on with Eddie's hair on Newsnight ?  Is there "product" involved ?

Subtle

Whether Samira Ahmed's departure from Channel 4 News last year was over "scruffy hair" or not, she's changed a few things for hosting Sunday Morning Live on the BBC. I point to earrings, lipstick, probably hair product and maybe even one of Susannah Reid's old dresses.

Unsuitable

I noticed this rather churlish letter from the elaborately-coiffed Michael Cole, late of the BBC and Harrods, to the Guardian on Thursday.

The last time I saw a suit as creased as that worn by George Entwistle for his introduction as director general of the BBC (Report, 5 July), it was an Armani rag being worn by John Birt. I hope this sartorial faux pas does not portend a new onslaught of Stalinism at the White Lubyanka that is BBC HQ. At least there was a sober tie, an absence of designer stubble and a reassuringly northern name, so perhaps we shall see some Yorkshire common sense at the helm of an organisation where broken dreams have washed up in the wake of the diamond jubilee flotilla. 


Michael Cole BBC TV reporter 1968-88. 


Poor George had been kept out of sight by Trust heavies from just after first light on the 4th of July. His concealment was complete until the news of his elevation was emailed to staff by Lord Patten around 10.40am. Even if he'd brought a fresh whistle with him, getting to somewhere to change would have given the game away to lower-ranking operatives. And the heavies were Trusting no-one.  

Brace yourself

There's a weight off his shoulders. Or is it a weight loss round the middle ?  This week outgoing BBC DG Mark Thompson has been on jovial form, with the Candle of Multi-Platform Public Service Broadcasting handed safely to young Jedi George. Thommo, normally tie-less, has taken to wearing wide and obvious braces and loud ties.

Is he channelling Lou Grant, ahead of a stint at the New York Times ? Or is CNN looking to replace Piers Morgan ? Whatever, the consensus in the BBC is that Thommo's Going West - at least style-wise.

Fearless

I thought this might be a good weekend to collect pictures of broadcasters in wellingtons, but then again...

Clothes horse

Vanessa Feltz may have lost her chat show on Channel 5 (sets by Debenhams) but the hardest working woman in show business is never off duty. Unsubtle product placement continued this week with Randyz Bags and Iced Rainbow jewellery.

• Vanessa is off today - it's the Jewish New Year; Lynn Parsons covered her Radio 2 early morning show, and Nikki Bedi sits in at Radio London.  But be warned if you see her about - on Wednesday morning, she informed Radio 2 listeners "It's so lovely I am thinking about exhuming the g-string".

Socks

Scenes from this morning's BBC1 discussion between Charlie Cairoli (r) and a man from one of the pews at the back, who seems to be wearing brown Hush Puppies with a grey suit, and those colour-coded black M&S socks.