The spectator

Who's trying to unmask the mysterious Madame Arcati?

WHEN THE 'MAIL ON SUNDAY' ran an erroneous story alleging an affair between Channel 4 News's Jon Snow and writer Precious Williams, Madame Arcati, the mysterious media and celebrity blog, became a hotbed for gossip. Until, that is, Snow's lawyers called time on the allegations. Now comes news that somebody has been trying to unmask Mme Arcati. She writes: "I know one newspaper at least which paid an intermediary to obtain a blogger's identity by illegal means, and I know that this person is probing Arcati." She also reports that AOL told her of attempts to access her email with the wrong password. We accept the denial by the 'MoS' of any involvement. So speculation must turn to other media groups.

Good week for

CHERIE BLAIR_ who has finally escaped the clutches of the media. But while her husband's exit from Downing Street was magnanimous, Cherie could not resist having the last word. As they prepared to drive away, the outgoing prime minister's wife carped at the assembled press pack: "I don't think we'll miss you." No news yet on who the next 'Daily Mail' hate-figure is going to be.

Bad week for

PHONE-IN QUIZ ADDICTS_ who may see their favourite pastime curtailed. TV phone-in quizzes are currently classified as "free draws" - no licence is required but the Gambling Commission suspects they may be more of a lottery, which do require a licence. In which case, 20 per cent of proceeds should go to charity.

Mucking in at the BBC

SURELY BBC NEWS CHIEF Peter Horrocks's plans for news convergence is going a bit far. On Thursday morning's 'Today' programme on Radio 4, star presenter Fiona Bruce was drafted in as a regular news reporter to file a humdrum one-minute item on how green supermarkets are. "She was doing a special for 'The Money Programme' that day," says a BBC spokesman. "She did that report especially for the 'Today' programme." So is demotion the new promotion at the BBC?

Money finds a home

MODESTLY NAMED SOPHIA MONEY-COUTTS, granddaughter of the great 'Daily Telegraph' editor Bill Deedes, surprisingly failed the interview for an internship at the paper, as reported here. But the 'Daily Mail's Richard Kay spotted her, er, talent and has given her some shifts. Meanwhile, which top-tier Telegrapher has just managed to get the firm to cover his son's Eton education? But it was tough luck for Tom Utley, who never got the school fees paid. He moved to the 'Daily Mail' last year for better perks.

I've decided to take the money and run

MARY ANN SIEGHART on taking redundancy at 'The Times' after 19 years

The final approval is in the next two, three weeks' time or not at all

RUPERT MURDOCH on the takeover of 'Wall Street Journal' owner Dow Jones

Ahead of the Joneses

ANOTHER FABULOUS FRONT PAGE for Andrew Pierce, the shiny new assistant editor of 'The Daily Telegraph', on Wednesday: "Finally, Blair exits the stage". It was, however, less glorious for George Jones, the learned and long-standing political editor, whose piece it should, by rights, have been, given his job title. Oh hang on. Twitterers at the 'Telegraph' are saying Jones did in fact write the piece, only to see his byline transmute into Pierce's in the next day's paper. There's gratitude for you.

How nice to see you

IN THE WEEK THE HOUSE OF LORDS communications committee announced its inquiry into media ownership, it's good to see Sky chief executive James Murdoch tripping up to BBC HQ for a little co- operational chat. "James Murdoch was invited to a short conference of the BBC's direction group this week," admits the Beeb. "Part of the role of these get-togethers is to focus attention [on] the world outside the BBC, and Mr Murdoch was invited by the director-general in this respect." How cosy.

'There's an element of satire'

RUSSELL T DAVIES admitting the Master in 'Doctor Who' is partly based on Tony Blair

'A lot of our content on YouTube we just let go because it is pretty good marketing for us'

ASHLEY HIGHFIELD, BBC future media and technology director, launching the iPlayer

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