The BBC is returning to a semblance of normality after last week's Sachsgate rumpus but the internal rumblings apparently continue, with a number of scores waiting to be settled. For starters, BBC News executives are hopping mad at the BBC's corporate press office. Monkey hears that as the story broke, the BBC press office was spinning its own news outlets, telling them at first that it was not a story, then that they were overplaying it - and ought to be more helpful. "But if we had gone soft, the Daily Mail would have crucified us. And anyway, our viewers and listeners were telling us it was a story," said one senior BBC News insider. "The problem was that no one with a journalism background was around at a senior level, and Helen Boaden, the director of BBC News, could offer advice - but it was not taken [by management]."
Meanwhile, Monkey was just one of many observers baffled by how slow the BBC was at getting its act together to tackle Sachsgate issue and put an end to it. The BBC's response was said to have been hampered because a number of senior executives were off on half-term holiday, however, Monkey understands that BBC director of audio and music, Tim Davie, and deputy director general Mark Byford were at least keeping close tabs on Russell Brand. Last Sunday night, after the Mail on Sunday had splashed on Brand and Jonathan Ross's offending Radio 2 broadcast, Davie and Byford were apparently enjoying BBC corporate hospitality at the Electric Proms Oasis gig in London's Roundhouse. Along with BBC talent including Chris Moyles - and Russell Brand. Couldn't you just have had a quiet word in his ear or something, lads?
