For BBC director general Mark Thompson, 2012 is a big year – what with the Olympics, the forthcoming communications bill and more pesky questions about him leaving the corporation. So Monkey was delighted to see him letting his beard down at Jools Holland's Hootenanny on New Year's Eve. Thommo was in the audience, along with celebrities ranging from Tom Hollander to Carol Vorderman. Alas there was no footage of him dancing but he did allow himself a laugh at some of Jo Brand's jokes (one hour 56 minutes in) – even when she said: "I know everyone hates him but I've got a soft spot for Nick Clegg ... it's face down on Hackney Marshes with my boot in his face." Monkey wonders if BBC editorial policy will make Thommo laugh at Jo making a joke about David Cameron and Ed Miliband too – in the interests of impartiality, you understand.
