Why was Byker Grove axed? Richard Deverell's interview on Newsround earlier this month (see blog for 13 May 2006) left some questions to be answered.

Was it anything to do with the BBC's increasing non-inclusiveness towards lgbt young people, I wondered? After all the storyline with Bradley coming out to Sadie might have ruffled a few homophobic feathers at the BBC. And then in the last series we saw him happily dating another boy. Was all this just a bit too much?

No, rest assured, says Mr Deverell, it has nothing to do with gay relationships or any of the other issues portrayed in the drama. It was - as we said in the press release - because we felt it was not targeted at the core audience of 6-12 year olds.

He didn't say if the BBC is happy and willing to see gay relationships portrayed or discussed on CBBC, but judging from the number of programmes about 'coming out' the BBC is now less inclusive for young lgbt people than it was last century.