The BBC is today publishing its accounts. And for the first time it has to include the actual salaries of its ‘stars’. Anyone earning more than 150 grand a year has to be named. And shamed!! Though earning lots of money is not really much of a shame, in the normal sense.

But the BBC is nothing ‘in the normal sense’. Because it is a noted broadcaster and producer, and yet is state-funded. Or, ‘paid for by us’. Therefore we’re entitled to know the nitty-gritty of who gets wot. And then we can say, with righteous indignation: ‘WE’re paying him HOW MUCH???? He’s not worth it. I want my license money back’.

I think Dr Who is a waste of money and time (travel) and space (time-continuum), but I get no say. Wouldn’t want a say. I actually trust the BBC to do what they think is best with MY cash. And if that’s to pay Gary Linneker 500 grand a year (guessing) to present Match of the Day, then so be it.

And because they are an entertainment company, they have to pay stars what they’re worth. Even though many are totally worthless. Because if they didn’t pay Gary his due, he’d be stolen by Sky, or ITV, or BT. So its not a matter of some kind of intrinsic worth or value, but just conditional on how much someone else would pay him to do the same job. Same as everything else, the market for ‘talent’ sets its own limits. We can either spend our BBC time staring at a bunch of moronic goons mumbling, or pay the price.

Off to Malta this afternoon. With MY baby. A week of slathering factor 70 over Lila and pulling her round a swimming pool. Probably screaming but she’s gotta learn. I would call it a ‘holiday’ but I’m not sure at this point.

Happy Wednesday

A xxxx