The Severance Six

It looks like Ma Hodge is close to settling her line-up for the Public Accounts Committee session in early September, revisiting BBC severance payments. Former chairman of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyons is now expected to make the journey from Sutton Coldfield, to stand alongside Trust finance expert Anthony Fry, versus, for the executive, former senior non-exec Marcus Agius and former DG Mark Thompson. Most of the focus will be on deals for the last Deputy DG, Mark Byford and marketing chief Sharon Baylay. These deals were either "maximum" or "way beyond contractual", depending on your particular perspective. Lucy Adams, HR Director will return, to see what she can remember of the emails and letters around the process.

Grumpy Patten will be there, arguing it wasn't on his watch. There may not even be space for Lord Hall.