Big questions to answer

BEING a public spirited chap, I'm always looking for ways to help the BBC save money. But I'm not sure it ever wants to hear them. Whenever there's talk of cutting costs, its bosses get all tetchy. Much-loved shows would be axed, they warn, or even entire channels.

- Mike Ward previews tonight’s TV

But is that true? There are countless BBC shows I watch where the budget could clearly be trimmed. Just apply some judicious pruning to every BBC department (it has quite a few) and the net effect on the corporation's costs would surely be huge.

Which brings me on to Jason Manford. Not because I have a problem with him, but simply because the BBC must be paying him a fair whack to host THE ANSWER RUN, the daily quiz show which returns this afternoon (BBC1, 4.30pm), and I'm really not sure why.

Jason is a man of several talents. He can act, sing, tell jokes etc. He can probably even do that thing where you curl your tongue into an upside-down U shape.