The UK Guardian Online reports the BBC has admitted that it has been forced to suspend its Blackberry email service after senior executives noticed that portions of other people’s electronic conversations were appearing in the middle of their own messages.

Among the electronic conversations to have been distributed to other users are said to be one in which BBC1 controller Peter Fincham commented on the suitability of Cilla Black for BBC1.

Siemens, which provides the IT backbone for the BBC’s email system, was asked to close the Blackberry network after a Creative Futures senior management “awayday” at which users compared emails and discovered they were receiving messages not intended for them.

The decision left around 300 BBC executives and programme makers frantically checking their “sent” folders to make sure they had not inadvertently betrayed any confidences or criticised colleagues. Insiders said that while some of the rogue emails were potentially embarrassing, there were no serious leaks.