The BBC has defended filming the Easter edition of Songs of Praise in November - immediately after the Christmas show.

The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, said last week the decision would give "an air of unreality" to the programme.

He recalled filming for the show in a speech on the media: "When we had the BBC to film Songs of Praise at the cathedral before Advent and they told us that after we'd done Christmas we would do Easter straightaway - just change the flowers and get bright lights outside to mimic lighter spring evenings - it wasn't a deliberate deceit but it will give an air of unreality to the Easter programme."

The corporation defended the move, however, telling the Daily Telegraph it did not want to deceive viewers. A spokesman said it was a way of getting good value for the licence fee.