Letter: Comedic turn

Your take on the new BBC editorial guidelines mischaracterises the new provisions around humiliating and derogatory remarks (Auntie bans "humiliating" humour, 13 October).

We are not banning comedians from entertaining audiences or banning certain types of comedy - we have simply introduced a guideline which says that jokes about real people must be proportionate to their target.

We are clear that edgy comedy has and will continue to have a place on the BBC.

You also suggest that many people found the Ross/Brand broadcasts "comical", unfortunately your article does not reference the 40,000 complaints from the public about those broadcasts. The BBC Trust found the broadcasts were a deplorable intrusion into private lives.

ALISON HASTINGS

BBC trustee and chair of BBC Trust Editorial Standards Committee