[Dougal]

My first post on different (purple) forum was in a thread discussing Andrew Marr leaving the BBC. I remarked at the time that - with a little thought - the BBC could resolve a number of issues and set the bulletins up for a decade or so. I compared it to a game of 4D chess.

I'm still of that mind. However, the BBC needs to decide upon which non-news roles are acceptable for its journalists to take on and which are not. Is it right that Fiona Bruce should have so much of her time taken up by filming the Antiques Roadshow, Question Time and Fake or Fortune? I have less of an objection to Question Time as it's a news and current affairs programme. How many people look at Fiona Bruce and think "Presenter" or "Antiques" rather than "Journalist"?

By the same token, I'm not convinced that Clive Myrie should be presenting Mastermind. It's easier for him at the moment as he's associated so strongly with news (and war zones) but in time, how many people will see him and think "Presenter" or "Mastermind" rather than "Journalist"? He's already gone down the path of a 'road trip' documentary through Italy.

It isn't helpful when roles are blurred and the filming requirements for these broadcasts mean that the burden is taken up by others within the newsroom. I don't have an objection if a journalist does a documentary - Dimbleby, Marr and Edwards all did them - but the documentary should be (call me a snob if you must) substantial. I'm not sure a jolly through Italy quite cuts it. As much as I love gardening, I'm not sure that Sophie Raworth should be doing the Chelsea Flower Show, but this is one of the rare occasions when she appears on something other than the news or a consumer affair programme.

Of course, the Huw Edwards issue revealed a failure (shocking, I know) of BBC management. They placed all of their eggs in one basket. Anchor of the Six/Ten, State events, commentator, etc. When that linchpin is removed so suddenly it leaves a hole that must be filled. Should that hole be filled by an individual or by two or three individuals? It's a question that needs to be answered sooner rather than later (especially as an election could be called anytime between now and the end of 2024).

I know who I would like to see more of and I know who I think deserve certain roles (if being deserving is sufficient). But to achieve it you'd need to look across the BBC's output, from the Today programme on Radio 4 to Newsnight on BBC Two.