Blog: BBC 'sorry for lack of Tennant'

BBC executives today apologised after a mistake meant there was no mention of the actor David Tennant on radio and television for at least an hour.

The corporation said the error, which saw the actor not mentioned at all on any of its radio and television stations, took place between 3 and 4am.

A spokesman said the corporation had gone out of its way to make sure the actor either appeared or was mentioned on every one of its Christmas programmes, but a simple mistake had led to the Tennant blackout, which also affected the forthcoming Dr Who New Year special.

"We can only apologise," the spokesman added. "We've had him on everything from Desert Island Discs to Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and he even stood in hosting Jonathan Ross's Radio 2 show on Boxing Day. But for one hour last night I'm afraid we simply didn't mention him or Doctor Who.

"But hopefully the outrage will deflect attention from the fact that the Dr Who Christmas Day special wasn't much cop..."

Report by Andrew Owen