Observer hack feels Twitter outrage of Aggers and Lily Allen

Posted by Axegrinder on 25 August 2009 at 16:15
Tags: BBC, The Observer

Will Buckley, the Observer’s senior sports writer, has roused the Twitter mobs this week thanks to a critical article aimed at BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew centring on Saturday’s Test Match Special interview slot which featured pop star Lily Allen.

Apparently bemused by Agnew’s unabashed fawning over Allen, Buckley suggested in the piece that “Aggers had positioned himself firmly on the pervy side of things”.

Cue outrage. Buckley’s line proved to be the springboard for several pages of critical comments and a subsequent Twitter storm.

Agnew blankly tweeted: “I gave Will Buckley 24 hrs to apologise for calling me a pervert, and he has declined.” Moments later he told his followers the email address of Buckley’s boss - and Observer sports editor - Brian Oliver, and suggested that anyone who “may feel moved by this” could register their views.

He then admitted that he had “taken being called a pervert quite badly.” No kidding, Aggers.

But hark. Is that the sound of a miniature pop princess jumping into the fray?

Knocking Buckley’s bouncer out of the ground Lily Allen tweeted: “I dont know one person that agrees with The Observer on this one. Maybe this is Buckley’s attempt at creating a name for himself as the demise of the Observer Monthlys (including Sport) are imminent. Sorry @aggerscricket , I should have left you all alone.”

The spat has now taken a turn for the mainstream, with the Telegraph penning an article on the controversy. The Telegraph? Interested in a story that is vaguely related to Twitter? I never would have guessed.

Not even guests can spend a penny at newly frugal BBC

Posted by Axegrinder on 28 July 2009 at 20:16
Tags: BBC, radio 5 Live

While the BBC has taken plenty of flak lately for allegedly giving excessive rewards to top executives (huge salaries and massive pension pots), it appears the corporation is keen to stop guests spending a penny.

Axegrinder has heard from a hack who was recently invited to appear on Radio 5 Live to talk about their new book. It seems the pre-interview welcome was less than warm.

The author explains: “It’s a miserable place at night, BBC TV Centre. Not even a biscuit provided. I was locked in to the studio and no one told me how to get out to use the loos, or where to get coffee.

“There was a machine offering sweets for 20p. I put my coin in and about five Minstrels fell out. I sat there for about half an hour, ignored.

“When I got in to the interview, there were three people in there. No one told me who the man was — some MP who kept cutting in very annoyingly. I did my best. Glad when it was over though.”

Surely even the Daily Mail wouldn’t begrudge the Beeb giving interviewees the odd biscuit?

Or permission to use the loo.

Mark Byford’s hair raises eyebrows at concert

Posted by Axegrinder on 19 May 2009 at 09:14
Tags: BBC, Mark Byford

While in a queue at the bar of LSO St Luke’s before a Radio 2 concert by Paul Carrack and the BBC Concert Orchestra on Friday, Axegrinder overhead the following conversation:

First woman, pointing at tall, glum-looking, bespectacled chap : “Look at that man’s hair. Do you think it’s a wig? It’s extraordinary!”

Second woman: “I don’t know. Why would you buy a wig like that?”

Axegrinder intervened to explain that the man in question was Mark Byford, deputy director-general of the BBC, and, no, it was not a wig but his very own hair.

“Really?” replied the first woman. “You’d think he could afford a good hairdresser.”

For the concert, Byford sat in the front row upstairs and looked a picture of misery from beginning to end … which may give the BBC Concert Orchestra cause for concern.

A new role for Kenneth Branagh at the BBC?

Posted by Axegrinder on 15 December 2008 at 10:15
Tags: BBC, Jon Beazley, Strictly Come Dancing, Wallender

BBC’s basic error is sign of the times

Posted by Axegrinder on 26 October 2008 at 23:04
Tags: BBC, Lynne Truss

While watching last night’s BBC Four drama about the life of Dame Barbara Cartland, Axegrinder  – and probably thousands of sub-editors across the country – had a Lynne Truss moment. In a scene where the romantic novelist arrives to get married for the second time, the useless clots at the BBC had her standing in front of a sign saying “Registry Office”. One can forgive a little corner shop for writing “carrot’s” or “apple’s” but this is just pathetic.