BBC to unveil new editorial guidelines

The BBC Trust, the broadcasting corporation's internal regulator, will today unveil new editorial guidelines aimed at rebuilding the trust of viewers in wake of a series of high-profile breaches of standards.

The rules, which span all areas of broadcasting including "phone-in and text votes" to "political controversy", are expected to clamp down on arbitrary use of swear words after 9pm and encourage producers to "bleep" profanities more frequently.

It will also take steps to eliminate the prospect of "humiliating and intimidating" prank phone calls, such as those made by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand last year.

The corporation is also expected to take the unprecedented step of putting its guidelines out for a 12-week public consultation, allowing the public to have their say on how it creates and monitors its content.