Henry Blofeld's long lost Bangladeshi cousin

Isn't it a great feeling when you find that someone else has had exactly the same thought as you?

England are playing Bangladesh at cricket today. We're (England) making a pig's ear of it. The Test Match Special commentator sounded a bit familiar, yet not quite right. Then the following note appeared on the BBC site:

"Are we by any chance listening to Henry Blofeld's long lost Bangladeshi cousin in the TMS box?"

Were we the only two listeners who thought that Bangladeshi broadcaster Shamim Chowdhury was in fact Blowers trying a less-than-subtle/tasteful accent?

Moving the goal posts

There's a story in today's Times that Ofqual's Chief Exec ordered independent GCSE exam boards to cut the number of pupils who would achieve top grades to avoid another round of press stories about the dumbing down of exams.

Yes, the devaluation of grades is a problem but the answer isn't to penalise the students who have worked for their exam results. How is it fair to change the criteria once the exam is complete? The problem must surely be addressed at a curriculum level - by increasing what is required of students there will be a natural correction, with the added bonus of a better-educated population.

From a public relations point of view, this does Ofqual and the government no good at all. Instead of being able to celebrate increased achievement they now have to answer questions about how they've deprived students of the results they deserve. Which of those sounds better to you?