BBC hotel bill soars to £2m

Despite the recession the BBC has spent £2m on hotel room expenses in just one year - a 17-fold rise. Overnight accommodation costs in Salford - its new Northern England base - rose to £924,607 in 2011/2012 compared with some £54,000 in 2010/11.

These costs follow the £2m spent in two years transporting BBC staff between London, Salford and Manchester.