BBC Spends £10 Million Watching Shit In Other Countries

04-09-08

BBC executives have spent more than £10m travelling the world looking for awful television programmes to copy, it has been discolsed.

A scene from the popular French sitcom 'Deux Bierres et une Paquet de Chips, S'il Vous Plait'

The BBC defended the practice stressing a first-class trip to Berlin led to the acquisition of Norddeutscher Rundfunk's Lasten Choiren Der Standen and hospital drama, Herr Doktor, Ich Bin Eine Casualtie.

A brainstorming weekend in Amsterdam for 2,500 senior editors secured the rights to Holland's Kom Strikten Dancen and the new sex disease reality show Clappen Swappen.

Meanwhile, a week in Gascony for producer Martin Bishop led to the discovery of the popular antiques shows Le Cash Dans le Grenier and Le Cash Dans le Grenier de la Celebrité.

Mark Thompson, BBC director general, said: "We fly first class, otherwise we have to pay for the champagne and then claim it back later.

"Ten million pounds does sound like a lot for flying people around the world to watch television programmes, but not if you say it really quickly."

A BBC spokesman added: "We are acutely aware that every single penny of our income comes from the general public under threat of imprisonment. That's why we waste it.

"Do you want to end up in the Scrubs being arsed in the shower by bum rapists? No? Well shut up while I look for the most expensive hotel in Cannes."