BBC took 120 crew to cover Mandela memorial despite receiving 1,000 complaints about giving it too much coverage

The BBC sent 120 crew members to cover Nelson Mandela's memorial despite receiving more than 1,000 complaints over its 'excessive' coverage of his death.
The number of staff dedicated to the iconic leader's death was far greater than its rivals, including ITV which reportedly despatched just nine staff to South Africa.
News of the figures emerged as nearly 1,500 viewers complained that local news was being sidelined in favour of coverage of Mr Mandela's death, including some who grumbled about a repeat of Mrs Brown's Boys being interrupted.

Too much? Barack Obama gives his eulogy at Nelson Mandela's memorial service as seen on the BBC, which has sent 120 staff to cover the late South African leader's death

Good use of resources? The number of staff sent to South Africa was far greater than its rivals, including ITV which reportedly despatched just nine crew to cover proceedings

The BBC has defended the extent to which it featured the death of the former South African president, a major news item which led bulletins around the world.
By yesterday, the corporation had received 1,350 complaints about too much coverage across its news services, with some saying the emphasis had reduced the coverage of severe weather across the UK that day.
The BBC has defended its coverage and said Mandela's death was of 'considerable interest' to audiences in the UK and across the rest of the world.
A spokeswoman for the BBC told the Daily Telegraph: 'Over a ten-day period, we expect to have deployed around 120 journalists, technicians and support staff to work on this huge international story.
'They are providing coverage of events from a number of different locations across TV, radio and online. We will begin to scale back our deployment on Wednesday.'

Homage: Nelson Mandela's face is seen on a huge screen next to mourners sheltering from heavy rain with umbrellas during the official memorial service for late South African president

Hundreds of world leaders including President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro were joined by thousands of ordinary South Africans and Mr Mandela's family to pay tribute to the anti-apartheid hero at the FNB football stadium today.
Mr Obama led the tributes by calling Mr Mandela a 'giant of history'.
Mr Obama opened his speech by thanking Mandela's family, then continued: 'To the people of South Africa - people of every race and walk of life - the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us.

'His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. Your dignity and hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy.'
The U.S. President compared Mr Mandela’s actions to those of Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and US civil rights leader Martin Luther King but also warned against viewing Mr Mandela as detached from normal life.
'He was not a bust made of marble, he was a man made of flesh and blood,' he told the crowds in the stadium including leaders from more than 90 countries gathered at the stadium.