London - (Rioters): "Fat chance, mate," is how the Beeb's NUJ father-of-chapel summed up the odds this afternoon.
The 48 hour walk out will see a widespread Guy Fawkes weekend news blackout.
Hacks are hacked off about austerity measures messing with the ultimate sacred cow - their hard-won BBC pension pots.
Even treasured national events like the annual Royal British Legion remembrance shindig at the Albert Hall are off-menu.
"What happens if the Queen drops dead suddenly during the strike?" incredulous Newsfright presenter Kirsty Wark chortled this afternoon.
"Fuck all happens, that's what. Besides, I'm a republican and couldn't give a toss either way."
At BBC HQ this evening program schedulers were preparing wholesome quasi-newsy archive material to broadcast in place of the usual bulletins:
Fluffy interviews with Princess Diana circa 1982 and Cliff Richard singalongs at rainswept Wimbledon semi-finals will surely delight a detoxing news headline starved public.
Susan Boyle is 69.
