BBC DG on the BNP to the licence fee... From Nick Griffin's controversial appearance on Question Time, to your right to topflight football, the Chronicle has been hearing what you have to say about the BBC. Reporter DAN WARBURTON puts your questions to director general Mark Thompson.

Byline: DAN WARBURTON

Q: WHY has Match of the Day got over half a dozen exfootballers giving after-match commentaries? Totally wasteful, all viewers want is to watch the game, we can see what is happening without drivel from them.

A: I know football fans are very passionate about how their teams' performances are covered and I think a lively debate and feedback about our coverage is healthy.

I think former players bring with them professional experience and expertise that benefits our coverage and helps create discussion.

The programme may feel a little flat and lose some of its appeal without pundits to debate the big moments - from points of controversy to the game-changing incidents.

Alan Hansen, Alan Shearer and Mark Lawrenson are regular pundits on Match Of The Day and each one has played the game at the highest level so are well equipped to pass comment on the Premier League matches featured on the show. Mark Lawrenson and Lee Dixon both work on Football Focus and Lee doubles up on MOTD 2. Mark Lawrenson also co-commentates for both TV and Radio and does an online column. Lee also does radio commentary on occasion.

Final Score is a rolling results service and once again lively debate, honest opinion and personal experience all help make it a success.

Q: WHY is it that our national sport - football - rarely, if ever, features live on BBC TV? A: I believe BBC Sport overall has a broad and strong football portfolio which offers our audience solid value. Indeed two Newcastle United games have already been shown live this season as part of our Championship football package. As well as showing 10 live football games at this level this season, we've also got the rights to Carling Cup games - the final and one leg from each of the semi-finals, and sticking with domestic football we've got Match of the Day and the Football League highlights programme at the weekends. Internationally our focus is currently on the World Cup in 2010 but further ahead we'll also be showing the Euros in 2012. In determining the make-up of live football and highlights packages we have to balance a number of factors including value for money for audiences.

Live football can come at a high-premium but I do think we do provide excellent top level action. We want to bring fans the best football coverage across our range of services so that's why you'll find Five Live bringing live coverage from Premiership games throughout the season and bbc.co.uk/sport also offers video highlights of every game in the Coca Cola Football League, Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Q: Is it right for the BBC to give the valuable oxygen of publicity to the BNP's Nick Griffin? A: I know that the BNP is a party that attracts some strong views, but it is not for the BBC to pick and choose between individual parties and their policies. That is for the electorate. The fact is that BNP secured nearly a million votes in June, as well as two seats in the European Parliament.

By winning that representation the BNP has demonstrated evidence of electoral support at a national level. This is now being reflected in the amount of coverage it receives on BBC programmes such as Question Time. This is consistent with the BBC approach at previous elections when, for instance, UKIP and the Greens won European seats. The BBC is firm in its belief that it was appropriate for Mr Griffin to appear as a member of the panel and the BBC fulfilled its duty to uphold due impartiality by inviting him on the programme. Ultimately it is up to the public to decide how they want to vote.

Q: There still seems to be an awful lot of repeats on TV - why doesn't the BBC still make those great programmes which they simply repeat nowadays? A: We keep a very careful eye on the number of repeats across our four channels and at the moment BBC One has the least number in peak time of any channel in the UK. Repeats should not always be viewed in a negative light as carefully selected repeats are highly valued by viewers and provide better value for money. There are many reasons which explain why a show will be repeated. Mainly it's because we do know that many viewers, particularly of the digital channels, appreciate another chance to view some of their favourite programmes. However, it is also because channels do not have the budget to make new shows for every slot. Some shows actually become far more popular due to being repeated - BBC Three's Gavin and Stacey for example became a massive hit after it was repeated on BBC Two.

Q: With your new Salford offices being a three-hour drive or train journey away from Newcastle - which is little different from London, to be honest - how does the North East benefit? A: I can assure you that the North East is an incredibly important part of our plans. Through our base in Salford we will build strong links and partnerships across the entire North.

There will be more training available, more jobs and more opportunities. I hope that more independent media companies will set up across the North to take advantage of what the BBC is doing. We're also already working with over 50 universities and colleges which are providing people in the North East with real and practical ways to develop the skills the media industry in the North will need in the future. The end result of all this is that we will be able to make more programmes which reflect the North, and the lives of the people there, which will be seen by the whole of the UK. More TV production will stimulate the wider local economy as well.

Q: Why are disabled people underrepresented on the BBC? A: I agree absolutely that disabled people should be properly represented on TV, and we are committed to achieving this on the BBC. Whilst we must strive to do better and listen carefully to comments like yours, I also believe we have made real improvements.

In January we completed major research with Channel 4 called 'Talking Disability' and we're now taking on board the recommendations made to us by our disabled audiences.

In terms of programmes, following the success of 'Britain's Missing Top Model', this December we are introducing 'Dancing on Wheels' on BBC Three featuring wheelchair users. We are giving the many talented disabled actors and presenters opportunities on-screen. We recently cast disabled actor David Proud, who joined EastEnders and Cerrie Burnell continues to impress in her role as a CBeebies presenter.

And the BBC is also playing a broader role across the industry. We recently launched a disabled actors and presenters talent directory to help the industry with casting and we ran a series of road-shows around the UK to seek out emerging disabled talent as part of a unique search. I agree we are not there yet but we are making improvements.

CAPTION(S):

ON THE SPOT: Mark Thompson, the Director General of the BBC agreed to answer readers' questions