Nothing funny other than I quoted from memory a piece that I thought explained itself for its inaccuracy. I fondly imagined that broadly speaking Jan Bussell's name was known to many in this business. I sometimes forget how terribly old we are Chris!
I'm sure you're understanding of the Muffin background is correct. However, once you had decided what you would like to do, what was possible and within budget, you had to go through a lengthy approval process for even a two minute piece. TV was very nervy.
For years afterwards the BBC approval meeting of Muffin was a minor BBC legend. Legends become forgotten and superseded of course.
Everything but everything went round the table at the BBC in those days for inspection, consideration from every viewpoint, discussed and finally approved. They were very sensitive. Terrified of anyone ad-libbing. Every mortal thing had to be scripted, approved, stamped approved and then delivered, word for word. You would be called to explain why you had deviated and said 'but' instead of 'and'.
Think about it. One letter difference - an 'o' instead of a 'u' - and bullocks becomes bollocks and then where were you? All the Bishops and Archbishops would have been having fits. Mind you, the word bullocks was banned except in the early morning farming reports.
A lot was live of course. Radio had the advantage of being able to record and edit which was the preferred method of using Joe Public for comment or on say public involvement shows like Wilfred Pickles's Have A Go quiz. You couldn't rely on Mrs Bloggs to say the agreed words so they recorded and edited.
TV was different. Almost everything was live. Anything not live was filmed which was expensive and the quality different and obvious. OK for news but not in the studio. So they were hypersensitive about control.
It's a pity of late that the BBC doesn't again apply its Green Book rules and sensitivities to some of the untrustworthy and insensitive idiots it allows loose on the airwaves nowadays.