Value for money?

This week Tessa Jowell will be hoping for less media glare on her husband's financial activities - and what she knew about them - and more focus on what the Government expects from an important part of the media, the BBC.

The Culture Secretary will be publishing a White Paper telling the BBC how it should be running itself after it gets a new ten year charter.

The document will spell out what the Government thinks should be done to ensure that the BBC is responsive to the licence fee payer and gives value for money while not competing unfairly with commercial broadcasters.

The White Paper will suggest that BBC programmes should meet a 'public values test'.

There's expected to be a call for an end to ratings chasings programmes, such as home makeover shows, as well as warning against the BBC bidding for loads of blockbuster movies that would be sold to other channels anyway.

John Whittingdale MP

The Government thinks the BBC's board of governors is outdated and wants it replaced by a BBC Trust which would become responsible for issues such as impartiality and accuracy.

Andrew Rawnsley spoke to John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP who chairs the all party committee on culture, media and sport. He told Andrew what he wants the White Paper to say about the BBC.