The BBC have confirmed that Christine Bleakley will not return to host 'The One Show' when it begins screening again next week, which I think was already common knowledge, but there you go. Following Adrian Chiles' decision to leave the show (because of Chris Evans' arrival on the scene), the Beeb asked her to remain, but withdrew the offer after she admitted to feeling 'torn' about her future. Last month, it emerged that she was planning to go to ITV to take up a place beside Chiles on GMTV.

The BBC said in a statement:  "Following the BBC's decision to withdraw its offer of an extended contract to Christine Bleakley, we have agreed she will not be returning to The One Show. The BBC would like to take this opportunity to thank Christine for her contribution to the show and to wish her well."

Jason Manford, as announced in May, is to take over on the show from August, and until then, a number of different presenters will stand in. The BBC are currently screen-testing female presenters to work alongside the comedian.

Jonathan Ross will present a new chat show on ITV following his imminent departure from the BBC. The final instalment of 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross' will, as previously reported, be broadcast on 16 July, and feature David Beckham and Jackie Chan.

Ross, who will begin his new ITV show late next year, says: "I am thrilled and excited that after a short break I will be rolling up my sleeves and creating a brand new show for ITV1. I have worked successfully with most of the key figures at the network in the past and cannot wait to get back on screen with a fast, funny and unpredictable new talk show. I do have a little spare time at the beginning of 2011 though, so if England needs a temporary new manager I will consider the post seriously. Thank you".

Channel 4 has commissioned a four part thriller about gang members living in East London, to be broadcast next year. The drama has been scripted by Ronan Bennett, and is being produced by Cowboy Films, who also made the hard-to-sit-through, but still rather good 'The Last King Of Scotland'.

In researching 'Top Boy', Bennett has turned to Gerry Jackson, a fitness coach who has worked with young people in Hackney to help them stay away from drugs. The scriptwriter says: "I knew that I wanted to write about this world from the bottom up, from the point of view, not of the police, but of the tinies and youngers I saw every day hanging around the supermarket forecourt. So I asked Gerry if he would introduce me to kids on the street. Some of their stories were brutal and frightening. Others were sad and some were unintentionally funny. I wanted Top Boy to look at the fabric of life in a world we hear a lot about, but about which we know a lot less than we think".

Elsewhere in programmes-about-crime news: that Christopher Ecclestone is to star as a drug lord in a new six parter for the BBC, 'The Shadow Line'. It's a "noir thriller", written, produced and directed by Hugo Blick and co-starring the likes of Antony Sher, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Stephen Rea, and Lesley Sharp. Filming begins this month on the Isle Of Man, and the show will air next year.

Jackie Chan and David Beckham are to appear on the final instalment of Jonathan Ross's final Friday night talk show, which will be broadcast on 16 July. Also appearing, at the host's request, are Roxy Music.

As previously reported, Ross announced earlier in the year that he was leaving the BBC after thirteen years with the broadcaster. Speculators doing that old speculating thing are currently speculating that he is to take his chat show over to ITV.

The BBC Trust has called for the publication of the salaries of the corporation's highest paid stars. The governing body's chair, Sir Michael Lyons, says that the Beeb has to show that it is in touch with, and not "aloof and separate" from, the economic problems faced by the rest of the country, adding that "this is one of a small number of areas where we need to recapture public confidence". The stars in question won't actually be named however.  

Lyons also explained that a plan to cut the pay of senior managers at the BBC should be accelerated, and that millions had already been saved by the lowering of salaries elsewhere, as well as the axing of some posts. The BBC's executive board, and director general Mark Thompson will additionally only receive eleven months pay in this financial year, and members of the BBC Trust will themselves take a pay cut of 8.3% over the next two years.

Lyons said: "That's further evidence of the BBC recognising that this is a country facing tough times and that we need to do more to satisfy licence fee payers that we are genuinely using every pound and that we have particularly got to focus on the top pay of managers and the performers".

'Bellamy's People', the BBC2 show created by Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse based on their Radio 4 programme 'Down The Line', has been cancelled after just one series. Higson revealed the news this week via his Twitter account, saying "So farewell then Bellamy's People… My guns will be loaded when I return to Blighty".

A spokesman for BBC2 said: "We're proud to have brought Gary Bellamy out of the radio studio to meet the people of Britain. No second series is ever guaranteed and we've decided not to bring 'Bellamy's People' back again, but we will continue to bring more fresh, witty, imaginative new comedy to BBC2".

This Friday's episode of 'EastEnders' is to contain references to the result of Thursday's general election. Producers have made 'drop in scenes' covering every outcome, in which the characters Minty and Darren will discuss the results. It's not the first time scenes have been dropped in at the last minute to cover topical events; last minute footage has been inserted to refer to the election of US president Barack Obama, football results, and the death of Michael Jackson.

More than 5000 of 'Dr Who' fans have complained to the BBC because they say Saturday night's episode was ruined by a trailer for 'Over The Rainbow'. The programme was interrupted by a caption featuring an animated cartoon of the show's host, Graham Norton, just as new Doctor Matt Smith was making a dramatic pre-cliffhanger speech. It's shocking. I don't watch 'Dr Who', but I hate those trailers. And when they do that thing where they scrunch up the end credits of something.

Anyway, a BBC spokesperson has said: "We apologise for the timing of Saturday night's trail". I should think so too.

'One Show' host Adrian Chiles is leaving the BBC to join ITV and GMTV. The presenter is signing up to a four year deal that will see him take up a main hosting role on the breakfast show, as well as fronting football coverage. Apparently Chiles isn't happy with changes to the format of 'The One Show', and is "delighted" to be heading over to ITV, where, reports have it, he'll displace poor old sports chap Steve Ryder, and poor old GMTV types Ben Shephard and Andrew Castle. I don't get it, he's not *that* good, is he?

Anyway, he's quoted as saying: "The chance to front ITV's football coverage and GMTV would have proved an irresistible opportunity at the best of times. But, coming as it did at an awkward period for me at the BBC, it made the decision not quite as hard as it might have been. It’s no secret how disappointed I was by the controller’s decision to change an apparently successful show, but respect her right to do so. I can’t wait to get started at ITV".

The decision that Chiles seems to have been cross about was the one which led to Chris Evans' appointment as a co-presenter on 'The One Show'.  A BBC spokesman gritted: "We would like to thank Adrian for his contributions to his programmes and we wish him well for the future".

The BBC has announced details of a sixth year for its Drama Writers Academy. The likes of 'The Street's Jimmy McGovern, Barbara Machin, creator and writer of 'Waking The Dead', and Tony Jordan, of 'Hustle' fame, are lined up to lead masterclasses for the academy, which was created by controller of drama production John Yorke with the intention of creating a pool of writers to work on BBC dramas such as 'EastEnders' and 'Holby City'.  

Since the scheme's inception, 34 of its 40 graduates have gone on to work as full time TV writers. Yorke says: "Over the last five years, with the help of some of the best people in the industry we've been able to give new writers the space, time and tools to allow them to develop strong, individual work".

Those interested can apply as of next week up until 5 May. See bbc.co.uk/jobs for details.

The BBC have commissioned another series of E20, the web-based EastEnders spin-off that began earlier this year. The new series of ten 14 minute episodes will premiere online, and be followed by five televised episodes, to be shown on BBC3. The first series, meanwhile, is also to be televised, in three half hour episodes, also on BBC3. The new series is to be written by the same team of young writers – there are thirteen of them, aged between 17 and 22 – as worked on the first series.

The BBC's Simon Nelson says: "E20 was one of the most ambitious and successful multiplatform projects we've commissioned. It was brilliantly realised by the EastEnders team, introduced new writing and acting talent and threaded audiences and plotlines between the main and spin-off shows. We had no hesitation in commissioning another series, something which will delight the 17,000 fans who’ve been calling for more episodes on the E20 Facebook page".

Michael McIntyre is to host this year's Royal Variety Performance, which this year takes place at the London Palladium, proving that he can and will get everywhere. Not that it's altogether a bad thing.

The comedian, who at 34 will be the youngest ever host for the event, says  "I got my big break at the Royal Variety Performance in 2006 and returned in 2008, but now to host it is such an honour and I’m unbelievably excited".

The show will be broadcast on BBC1 in December. The Beeb's new head of in-house entertainment, Katie Taylor says that McIntyre will be the "brilliantly lively and infectious glue that will hold the Royal Variety Performance together".

Steven Moffat, who leads the previously reported new team behind 'Doctor Who', has said that the current economic climate won't affect the show, they'll just force the producers to be more creative.  "There will never be enough money to make Doctor Who," he's reported as saying. "We could spend 'Avatar's budget and still ask for more, because it's a show that's set in every point in history and every place in the universe".

He went on to say that finances aren't considered when writing episodes, and explained that the creative team set out to achieve what they can with the money they have. "A lot of the most iconic things about Doctor Who are a direct consequence of financial shortcomings," he added. It doesn't surprise me, frankly. It's the reason why Fringe theatre is so often so much more exciting than the big shows.

Anyway, as you may be aware, 'Doctor Who' returns on 3 April with the new doctor Matt Smith in the starring role.

The BBC has been criticised by The Anchor Trust – a provider of housing and care for the elderly – for not showing enough older people in its programmes, compared to ITV. Their "older faces audit" claims that only 20% of actors and presenters on BBC1 are over the age of 50, compared to ITV1, where the figure is 27%.

The survey was compiled by monitoring the five terrestrial channels 24 hours a day for a week. Imported programmes, films, repeats, regional programmes and shows with no visible presenter were not included. Faces who appeared more than once during the week – eg, that Lorraine Kelly off GMTV – were counted each time they appeared.

Anchor's chief executive Jane Ashcroft says it's "scandalous" that over fifties aren't more fairly represented. "Rather than condemning older presenters and actors to the scrap heap", she said, "it is time for television executives to embrace the wealth of talent and experience they may offer."

The BBC say in their defence: "We do not believe a one-week sample study is an accurate reflection of the BBC's output throughout the year. The reality is that we have a very wide range of artists on the BBC, including presenters and actors such as Sheila Hancock, Arlene Phillips, Sir David Attenborough and Julia Somerville, as well as other new faces who we hope will be with us for years to come".

That previously reported Dr Who tour has kicked off, with the first episode of the new series getting a movie style premiere in Cardiff, attended by the show's new stars, the latest Doctor Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, who plays his assistant. Smith told the BBC: "I'm pleased it's unleashed upon the world. I really hope people enjoy it and are thrilled with it."

A new-look tardis is revealed in the series opener, as well as new look doctor and assistant, a reflection, possibly of the fact that a new creative team has taken over. Original chief writer and show producer Russel T Davies has, as you may know, stood down. Smith and Gillan told reporters that they've had positive reactions from fans of the show, even in advance of the premiere, Gillan saying "We've had lots of lovely letters".

Sheila Hancock has praised the BBC's theatre talent shows for offering opportunities to people who would otherwise be denied them. She is, of course, a member of the judging panel on the latest one, 'Over The Rainbow', which is conducting a search to find someone to play Dorothy in a forthcoming production of 'The Wizard Of Oz'.

Comparing the talent show to the usual process of auditioning, the 'Sister Act' star said: "The difference between this and normal auditions is that anyone can apply. Normally for an audition you have to have an agent before you can actually get an audition. The actual process is very similar. You don’t see it all on camera, but a lot of it goes on behind the scenes. They are coached, and they audition again and they audition again, which is exactly what happens in theatre. Some people are disappointed and upset, just as you are in theatre".

She added that the BBC's shows, unlike others one could mention (ahem), only focus on the good. In some reality shows, people are chosen because they are laughably bad", she says. "It’s not like that on this show, really it isn’t. We are looking for talent".

The BBC has appointed a new head of entertainment and events. Katie Taylor, who  is to take on the role vacated by Jon Beazley, is currently executive editor of comedy entertainment, overseeing programmes such as 'Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow' and 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks'. She'll be the first woman ever to run the whole department.

Here's what Taylor says about it all: "I am very excited to be working with so many talented BBC faces, both on and behind the screen and look forward to both bringing on the next generation of artists and to creating brand defining and distinctive entertainment shows and events".

The new Doctor Who, Matt Smith, is to introduce himself to fans later this month when he appears on tour as part of a BBC Outreach programme that targets 'hard to reach' communities. He and co-star Karen Gillan will travel around the UK to showcase the first episode of the new series, taking in Belfast, Inverness, Sunderland, Salford and Northampton. Executive producer Piers Wenger says:  
"This is a great opportunity for the new doctor and his companion to interface directly with the people who matter most to Doctor Who: the fans".

Following that tour, which begins on 19 March, there will also big-screen events in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Plymouth and Swansea.

BBC sitcom 'Big Top', which starred Amanda Holden alongside John Thompson, Tony Robinson and Ruth Madoc, has been cancelled after just one series. The programme, which was about the performers in a travelling circus, struggled in the ratings despite having a prime-time BBC1 slot; 3.4million viewers watched the first episode, dropping to less than three million by the end of the run.

It also received less than favourable reviews. Caitlin Moran, for example, said in The Times: "Were the awfulness of Big Top rendered into miles, we could use it as a bridge to the Moon".

Marcus Mortimer, a producer at Big Bear Productions, who made the series, is quoted as saying: "Big Top was great fun to make - a wonderful cast. We're sad the audience didn't come to it as we might have hoped".

On the upside, I suppose it's good news for all those Holden-haters out there. Yes, you. I mean you.

BBC TV presenter Ray Gosling has revealed that he has told police the identity of the former lover that he smothered to death, in order to end his suffering from Aids.

As previously reported, the campaigner and journalist admitted to the mercy killing in a TV programme broadcast earlier this month. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and spent more than thirty hours in custody.

Reports following Gosling's release from prison suggested that he had not in fact revealed the identity of the man, but the 70 year old has made it clear to the Nottingham Evening Post that it was not something he was able to keep to himself under questioning. "If I'd not told them who it was, I'd still be locked up now," he said. He hasn't, however, revealed the man's name to the press.

In the same interview, Gosling expressed his surprise at the level of publicity his confession has generated. "I don't regret saying what I did on the television", he is quoted as saying. "The BBC didn't use me. They let me decide what I wanted to say. They told me the risks of doing it".