Strictly Come Dancing judges and participants have been gagged over the Arlene Phillips affair according to reports today in the mainstream media.

The Evening Standard reports tonight that a “secret memo” issued by the BBC tackles difficult issues of the age and gender of the former judge.

What complete and utter nonsense. Everyone in PR will have recognised the memorandum is a media Q&A. It is a standard tactic used a briefing document for anyone that has to face the media.

Q&As are typically tedious documents drafted to ensure that all spokespeople stick to the script and are prepared for tricky questions from the media.