Hacks bemused by BBC's volte face over Live Aid

Auntie has certainly moved quite a way from the wholehearted support she professed when Africa editor Martin Plaut made his show for Assignment in March suggesting that some of the Live Aid money was used to buy arms. The BBC vigorously defended his reporting in print and on Radio 4.

Then after the internal complaints unit and the BBC Trust looked at it, in November, the decision to back Plaut's thesis was without warning reversed.

However, lest anyone think this is a case of When Bob met Mark Thompson, the BBC insists "the two are not connected".

Macleod was queen of the Beeb's diction

In The King's Speech — Britain's brightest hope for an Oscar — Helena Bonham Carter (who plays "Bertie's" wife the Duchess of York and later the Queen) says she found Lionel Logue on the recommendation of Eileen Macleod at the Royal Society of Speech Therapists.

Although Eileen herself never got to have a stab at being the royal elecutioner, she is a revered figure at the BBC.

"Eileen was a legendary figure training announcers in Bush House until well into her nineties an old, grey-haired lady taking one-to-one sessions," says a mole. Without swearing one hopes.

Johnson's joke falls flat Stateside

That indestructible scribe Paul Johnson, pictured above, is popular in the US. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006 by President Bush but sadly has had something of a slapdown from the New York Times for his new book Humorists.

Critic Neil Genzlinger writes that the book is "fairly pedestrian until the last few pages, when he makes it odious." His crime? Sticking up for politically incorrect humour. Really, just because they speak the same language

Some are too busy to check The Times

The Times attaches special importance to podcasts but there are those who remain sceptical of their worth.

Among the doubters is Patrick Barclay, the paper's chief football commentator. During a recent webchat, the veteran Scottish scribe was asked what his favourite podcast was from The Thunderer to which he candidly admitted: "I don't have time to listen to them"

Observer keeps it in the family

A new body joins the Observer's political team in the form of Daniel Boffey, formerly of the Mail on Sunday. He is replacing Anushka Asthana who's off to The Times, as number two on the desk.

Boffey will be among friends as, er, his dad Chris is the paper's news editor. It's certainly a good way to ensure the subs don't forget your byline.