THE panel of the Radio 4 Any Questions programme from Bedale on Friday, May 25, has been changed following this week's announcement of a general election.

Two MPs have been added to the panel to give it more political content and balance - Iain Duncan-Smith (Conservative), the shadow defence minister, and Jackie Ballard, Liberal Democrat member for Taunton.

Of the original panel only David Blunkett, education and employment secretary, remains. Digby Jones of the CBI and Chris Woodhead, former head of Ofsted, will not now appear. A fourth panel member will be named shortly.

The programme, chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby, will come live from Bedale high school at 8pm on May 25 with a repeat the following day at 1.15. It is being hosted by Bedale 750, the group organising celebrations to mark the anniversary of the market charter