But why does it feel the need to dangle a carrot to get them to move up here? Surely they should be chomping at the bit to get a foot up north?
As I understand it, one of the key reasons the Beeb decided to move to Media City in Salford was to save money, so isn't it counterproductive that relocated staff get to hang on to the London weighting?
And isn't it also getting the whole relocation thing off to a rather bad start? A bit of 'here luvvies, if you agree to go up north, we'll cushion the blow by seeing you right'.
Oh yes, they may be leaving London's gold-paved streets for grimmer stuff (or so they might believe) but 30 pieces of silver will make it a bit more palatable.
So let's looks at what this lily-livered lot will have to put up with when they try to adapt to a life outside the big smoke.
Manchester has bucketloads of style, culture et al to rival and perhaps beat our country's capital. Let's start with music shall we? Joy Division versus Spandau Ballet; Take That versus East 17; Morrissey versus Phil Collins.
Okay, I know, I've played the sublime to the ridiculous card there. So let's talk telly.
Manchester has been a focal point of a lot of great TV over the past 20-odd years or so. Where do I begin?
How about Life on Mars, Cold Feet, Shameless, The Street, Cracker, The Royle Family, Clocking Off, Prime Suspect? The list is endless....
And once upon a time if we wanted to shop for high fashion, we'd take a `mini-break' to London and return with the latest trends.
Not anymore. Manchester's got the lot, plus the best independent shops in areas like the Northern Quarter and the world famous Affleck's Palace. And we've got the likes of Agyness Deyn to model the stuff, but even if she's holed up somewhere in New York then our northern ladies are pretty damn cool. It's true our restaurants might need a bit of attention, although there's still a good meal to be had in several places.
No one can deny we have a cosmopolitan and vibrant city. I know if I were asked to relocate I'd be hell-bent on selling my `can't swing a cat shoebox' in Fulham and moving to one of Manchester's city centre apartments before you could say `eeh by gum'.
But if they still won't come here without a huge payout, why don't the BBC leave them to put up with the appalling lifestyle of London and employ some of our brilliant local people?
Oh, I almost forgot. Tony Wilson versus Simon Cowell.
I rest my case.
Sweet way to dance a jig on Halloween
OUT of the mouths of babes, or so the saying goes.
I was out 'marshalling' a trick or treat session on Halloween with my eight-year-old son and some of his mates.
We knocked at the door of one particular grand house. The lady of the house answered armed with a handful of sweets and remarked on the 'scary costumes' of the assembled gang.
"Why is she speaking funny?" asked a six-year-old theatre fanatic.
"She's not speaking funny," I said, "she's Irish."
His face lit up. "Can you Riverdance?" he asked.
He came away with the most sweets.
Why heels are still height of fashion for me
THE fashion pack are telling us that killer heels are dead - not for us vertically challenged, they're not.
While I admit to being a firm fan of flat ballet pumps by day, by night I am Karen, the Killer Heel Queen.
Being 5ft 3ins can pose its problems when out and about in the city's nightspots.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind being small. In fact, I quite like it.
But adding an extra six inches or so does have its benefits. Being visible at the bar is one of them.
Instead of the bartender wondering what on earth that bird's nest is doing sitting on the bar (the top of my head) they at least see my face. And get me a drink.
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castlefieldres, manchester (10/11/2009 at 09:56)
When they signed up to work for the BBC, they will not have been told this was on the cards and may have thought twice if they had.
Not because they hate 'the North' but because they had already set up their life plans. If the CIS suddenly decided to uproot to London then no doubt the MEN would be up in arms about families having to move etc.
This is similar.
There are not a lot of organisations like the BBC and I would imagine it's quite a prized company to work for, so it's not like they can go and get other similar jobs.
Yes Manchester is wonderful and they'll love it when they get here but be aware there will be some people leaving families and friends behind and that can be hard.
Give them all the help they need and if that's a financial package then so be it, the move will be brilliant in the long run for the area so let's not have these people too down about the whole thing.