Why Radio 3’s move up north is so hilarious

The last three controllers of BBC Radio were all born in the north, each bringing an out-of-London perspective to the job, as well as an accent that could be turned on and off at will.

Nick Kenyon is from Cheshire.

Roger Wright is Mancunian.

Alan Davey (pic) is from Stockton-on-Tees.

The notion that any of them needed reminding that there is a country beyond London is preposterous. But not as absurd as having to move the whole of Radio 3 up to Manchester just to show that the BBC recognises its existence. The costs of relocation will be enormous, as will the redundancy payments for those who refuse to go.

This, even by W1A standards, is the BBC at its most self-caricaturing.

And why the corp controller has to shuttle up and down for meetings when his department is in the north is unfathomable. He has no need of an office for his cuddly toys in BH. If he wants to talk to London he can do it by Zoom.