BBC News: Presenters & Rotas

No issue here with either interview as you describe, it's a journalist's job to get to the bottom of the story.

Questioning Prescott on violent reactions is a valid and necessary element if using him in the story. Prescott knew the subject of the discussion and should have expected the punch issue to be raised, he could have declined to take part, he didn't.

Mandelson is actively involved in the Campaign and should expect strategy questioning too.

The problem I have with the incident being raised is that it does not compare to the current debate about Gordon Brown. Brown is accused of bullying staff at work. Prescott punched a man who had thrown an egg at him first. In my opinion, those two incidents do not compare.

The irony of this ongoing debate in the media is that it's actually having the opposite effect on me. I have serious differences of opinion with Labour regarding policy issues and decisions, but this media witch-hunt of Gordon Brown, which has effectively being ongoing since he became PM in 2007, is actually making me feel more sympathetic to him.

They are relevant though, both the alleged Brown and Prescott's filmed incidents are displays of violence, albeit with Prescott being provoked. They both, if in the unlikely event imo that the alleged Brown incidents are proven, show response to stress situations. Either of which are not desirable.

Does anyone know if Amroliwala has swapped places with Ben Brown permanently? He's been on with Gosling all week 7-10, where Ben has been with Jane 11-2.

I think its when he does Crimewatch which is on tonight. he maybe has filming commitments/rehearsals during the day

Are we now referring to news presenters by their surnames? Hill, Brown, Gosling, Owen, Croxhall?

Why not? Far less creepy than using their first names.

Mr Amroliwala to you!

I get the impression Ben doesn't like evenings - he seems have to pop up for full-weeks on the afternoon or late morning slot a lot over the last year. Jon Sopel has also moved to evenings with Ben taking his slot before - I wouldn't think anything of this week's switch.

Have there been appearances in this current week by Julia Somerville, Fiona Armstrong and/or Carole Walker? Or have they "been and gone", so to speak?

No appearances by any of them I'm afraid, James. Not as far as I've seen, anyway. It's looking like it might have been a token gesture by the BBC...

Not only will Fiona Foster join BBC World's "FastTrack" programme, but she will also be a new member of the hosting team of "The World Debate".

I wonder if she will eventually move over to the newsdesk?