These hoo-hahs about actors/actresses/presenters being replaced crop up over and over again in broadcasting. Does anyone recall another such when Ellis Powell was replaced by Jessie Matthews as Gwen Dale in "Mrs. Dale's Diary"? It's an instructive analogy. "Mrs. Dale" started in 1948 and, in 1962 (14 years later), it was decided that the programme needed change - so it was renamed "The Dales", got a new theme tune by Ron Grainer and, in 1963, Ellis Powell was sacked with a fairly large controversy! Sounds familiar?

It caused such a hoo-had, in fact, that a play was written based broadly around it - "The Killing of Sister George". I remember the day that "The Dales" series finally came to an end - in April 1969 - and walking into the BBC Club bar in the Langham to see Jessie Matthews in her mink stole being feted by the Good and Gorgeous...