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BBC spends £45,000 on Oxo party to launch Merlin
Jack Lefley17.12.08
THE BBC was under fire today for throwing a £45,572 licence fee-funded party to launch a TV drama series.
But bosses defended spending so much cash on entertaining 300-plus people at the Oxo Tower to promote Merlin saying it was "the most cost-effective way possible". It was the biggest of four parties in 2008 at a total cost of nearly £164,000, Channel 4 News established using freedom of information laws.
The BBC's chief operating officer Caroline Thomson defended the bill. "We don't party for party's sake; we choose the programmes we are going to launch at parties very carefully," she told Channel 4. The cost included food, drink, room hire, photography, security, entertainment, invitations and transport. A total of 326 people, including the media, cast and crew were invited. Also launched with parties were The Passion, No 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Little Dorrit.
Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of broadcasting and media union Bectu, said: "I am shocked at a time when the BBC has made 2,000 staff redundant this year. I am not saying that they shouldn't do it, but I believe they have plenty of in-house facilities that would be suitable."
Lib-Dem culture spokesman Don Foster said: "Those people who pay their licence fee want that money to be spent on top quality broadcasting, not on top quality parties."
Reader views (17)
Yet again, senior management within the BBC has shown a total disregard for its licence fee payers. If a programme is good enough, then people will watch it. There is no requirement whatsoever for extravagant launch events and senior management should have stopped this practice long ago. If the BBC's management wants to run the organization like a commercial business then I suggest that they put forward a proposal to fund the BBC without the £3Bn+ of licence fee money which the BBC gets from taxpayers each year. More importantly, Mark Thompson needs to move aside for someone who understands the BBC's responsibility to those who fund it: such arrogance and contempt for licence fee payers has no place in a PSB.
- Lex, Worcester
my god thats a little lavish given the greed we've seen from bankers, i think the greed from the BBC is now in question...again...someone should be fired for this. the person who signed off the bill should have to pay.
- Janet, lambeth
The marketing budget for this show would have been set in discussions before the end of the financial year deadline in April 2008. The BBC knew they were going to spend £45K, they had planned to spend £45K and they went ahead and actually spent £45K. It was inevitable if the drama department wanted to retain their same budget for next year.
Use it or lose it !
- Adam, HARROW, UK
Just had a look on the BBC Home Page to find out more about this, but not surprisingly couldn't find anything there. I would be interested to know who the attendees were, so I could be comforted to know that my Licence Fee money wasn't being used to feed the wrong people!
- Steve Wells, Uxbridge
For the next few years at the very least I think an embargo should be placed on any unnecessary or perceived to be profligate spending of tax payers' money.Any people within the public sector who DO insist on spend tax payers' money in this way and it becomes public knowledge would I think be attracting the wrath of the general public. Those employed in the "safe job environment" would be wise to keep a low profile as this downturn worsens. Any who don't comply should be held to account publicly. This applies to the Olympics too and should be stopped also against a background of uncertain futures for so many.
- Raymond, London
BBC RIP
- Sharon, London
I fail to understand why it is necessary to have a launch party by a public service broadcaster.
Who were the people who attended I wonder?
- Watson, London UK
Public sector workers wasting tax payers money yet again.
- P I Staker, London
Well, at least they know how to enjoy themselves and the best venue to go to. I'm jealous I wasn't invited, Oxo is brilliant any chance some of us tv licence holders get invited next time, if ox is on offer I'm free!!!
- Jass Runjam, london
I pay my TV tax every year, and am really annoyed at the way the BBC operate.
Why can't I watch the DVDs which I purchase on my TV monitor without having to pander to these dreadful civil servants!!
Is there any way I can legally avoid paying this tax so that a bunch of middle class yobs can party.
£139.50 extra a year would be very useful at this particular time.
- Taxfreetv, London, Uk
Indeed why do you need a party to launch a TV show?
If it were ITV I'd say the party was to attract advertsing revenue from advertisers.
I wonder who at the BBC thought a party was a good idea and necessary?
- Pete, London
No need to worry the party has been paid for by the viewers of Strickly Come Dancing
- John C, London
The cost is £139.79 per head. Mi Lady Caroline may think that this is a normal amount to spend on partying but I would remind her that this represents a week and a half pension. The BBC runs more and more jollies that it pretends are the norm. There is a movement to boycott the Licence fee. When will people like Caroline realise that it is people like her and her conspicuous waste that fuels this movement?
- Dave, London England
Im more astounded by their choice of restaurant. At least if they are going to blow our fees choose somewhere half decent to eat. Oxo is a complete rip off and a tourist trap!
- Nicholas, london
The snouts are still in the trough filled by gormless Brits paying for something which is not worth a damn- the ghastly BBC TV programmes!
- Alan, Chigwell. UK
Why do you have to have a party to launch a television programme?
- Adam, London, UK
It is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE for the BBC to squander licence payers' money on such obscene extravagances. Clearly the licence payer is being overcharged for what is, in effect, a very poor standard of broadcasting. I decided not to renew my licence following the Brand/Ross scandal and this latest revelation convinces me I made the right decision. The government must remove Mark Thompson immediately and scrap the licence fee and find some other means of funding this corrupt corporation. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
