Phone competitions return to BBC

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Premium rate phone-in competitions are to be gradually reintroduced to the BBC in January.

The corporation suspended all competitions in July after an inquiry unearthed several faked phone-ins.

A limited number of competitions will be phased in from next month beginning with Goal of the Month on Match of the Day and Popmaster on Radio Two.

Premium rate calls to the BBC will now be capped at 15 pence except for charity appeal shows like Comic Relief.

The BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, said the new capping policy was to make the cost of premium rate calls clearer to the public.

Code of conduct

However, he admitted that the fixed rate would mean charities will now receive "slightly less money" as a result.

Mr Thompson said the BBC was now in talks with charities "about other ways of supporting their work".

Currently, shows not directly linked to charity appeals - such as Strictly Come Dancing - are able to raise additional sums for charity by increasing the call price, usually by 10 pence.

But this will no longer happen under the new policy.

The BBC announced a new code of conduct in November regarding the running of competitions and voting.

There will be a reduction of the number of competitions held as part of BBC programmes and any proposed contests must be approved at a very senior level before being given the go-ahead.