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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Presented by Matt Wells and produced by Ben Green

Media Talk: BBC gay row

It's our last panel-based Media Talk of 2009, and Matt Wells and is joined by an occasionally outraged Stephen Brook and the ever pun-tastic John Plunkett to pore over the week's news.

We start with the controversy at the BBC. Just when the corporation's press office thought it could sign off for the year, the World Service asked: "Should homosexuals be executed?" An apology has now been issued but, we ask, should the programme ever have got to air? (Similarly, who thought that Rage Against the Machine's live performance on the Five Live breakfast programme would pass without incident or profanity?)

Also in the podcast, we all take a huge slice of humble pie and offer ITV's director of programming Peter Fincham our sincerest apologies after ITV1 came up trumps in the rating battle.

Plus, never mind the bankers: the Daily Telegraph brings back its staff christmas bonus.

And finally, we get warm and nostalgic for an end of an era as Sir Terry Wogan prepares to sign off from the Radio 2 breakfast show.

We're back next week with our special year-end review. In the meantime, post your comment on the blog below, find us on Facebook and Twitter, and perhaps consider splashing out for the magnificent Guardian iPhone app. No pressure ...

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