I was recently asked, as an influencer, to help promote the new BBC Maestro WRITING CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS course with Julia Donaldson. I was told about the amazing production values and wonderful quality tutors etc.

When I checked it out, I was appalled to see they are charging £80!

It appears that BBC Maestro

“… has not been funded by the licence fee and is not connected to BBC Public Service. BBC Maestro is an independent business, operating under licence and in close collaboration with BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC.”

If it says BBC on the tin, I think we all expect it to be BBC inside. We have all paid our license fees – or tax and is should properly be called and so should expect a free service.

If BBC Maestro is an independent business, then it should not pretend to be the BBC and use BBC logos. Personally, I think it akin to fraud or passing off.

We pay already for the BBC and that’s what we should get.

Anything else – go and start up like any other business.