British Comedy Guide

BBC Cutbacks

DIRECTOR GENERAL : Look it's no good. We've got to make some cut backs. Not unless we can double the price of the TV license.

MP : I'm sorry - that's just not possible. We get enough flack about the price as it is now.

DIRECTOR GENERAL : Well something's got to give.

MP : How about you drop some of the Digital Radio stations?

DG : What? No way. That's public service broadcasting.

MP : But BBC 29. Listening figures last week were 6.

DG : Blimey - that's good. So you want to disappoint those 6 people?

MP : And a vast amount of your budget last year was spent on Taxis ferrying staff and guests to and from the studios.

DG : Do you want people to think we're cheap skates?

MP : Well - do you have any better suggestions?

DG : Yes. We're going to lay off 2,800 members of staff.

MP : What? The unions won't allow it.

DG : There will be compulsory redundancies and increased workloads.

MP : But that could mean some people having to work 6 hours a week.

DG : And it means we'll have to axe programmes like Top Gear.

MP : Oh well - it's not all bad then.

DG : And also - we'll sell off Television Centre.

MP (SPLUTTERING) : You can't do that! Television Centre IS the BBC.

DG : But it's a millstone - and think of the money we can get from the sale of it.

MP : So where will you film all your TV shows?

DG : Well you know all those Taxis we use.................

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