BBC News have alerted me that Peter Fincham has resigned. Allegedly this is due to the publication of the report into the Misrepresentation Of The Queen. Today is also the eve of the second series of Robin Hood, which he also previously spoke out of turn about, as I covered in a previous blog post.

It’s actually one of the few LJ posts I reposted here, as I suspected I may want to refer to it again.

I am at some point soon going to get my arse in gear and start posting more regularly on this personal blog site. Upcoming topics include the iPod touch, Billie Piper, Board Game Geek, sauna etiquette, some belated musings on my recent trip to Australia. And why Facebook is like High School Musical. So add me to your RSS reader now! Or bookmark me, whatever suits you.

Previously posted on my LiveJournal

BBC1 Controller Peter Fincham must go, or at least be prevented from speaking to journalists.

It is one thing to show two scenes in the wrong order. It is entirely another to actually say “Annie Leibovitz gets it slightly wrong and the Queen walks out in a huff” to a room full of journos.

But for me, his biggest crime was his “announcement” that Friar Tuck should be in Series 2 of Robin Hood and that Matt Lucas should play the part. Don’t worry - this isn’t happening.

A report in the Sun (which was picked up by Digital Spy) quoted Peter saying this week “I have no idea what happened — I thought it would be fun to have Friar Tuck. I think we need an inquiry. They have slightly left me high and dry - I announced it and it’s not happening. I suppose it just shows you the limits to my powers as BBC1 boss.”

On first read, I assumed that this was tongue-in-cheek. It is possible to read it in a self-deprecating sarcastic tone. But having seen him on TV, he looks the type to have said that and meant it. Read that quote back in the voice of Bertie Wooster. Then dial down the likeability. That’s Peter Fincham. He quite possibly genuinely wants an inquiry into why he can’t unilaterally force Poochie onto a show’s creative team.

The only way he could redeem himself now would be for him to not cock up the Neighbours replacement. I do hope he (and whoever fills the Daytime vacancy) does use River City in the reshuffle, even if it does need subtitles at times.

Thankfully, Matt Lucas is in any event too busy making Little America etc to play Tuck. A sketch show star famous for playing a catchphrase-spouting chav? As a regular character in a Saturday family adventure-drama series? That would be a *terrible* idea.