The cost of “Big Cat” production questioned

The Big Cat Diaries are no doubt a huge success, but so would any programme be that had such resources thrown at it.

The bean counters have been checking out the figures and have come back with some extraordinary figures on what it takes to make a show.

The resources involved included ninety four staff; seventeen planes; thirteen lorries; dozens of cars; and a generator and battery trucks; all of which added up to a massive £600,000 for the three week airing, which only produced eight hours of viewing.

In times when people are finding it hard to survive, the BBC are finding themselves at the wrong end of complaints about their extravangance, and judging by the amount of equipment and personnel used, it is easy to see why.

They were also criticised for not mentioning the effect of climate change on wildlife in east Africa.