BBC is reportedly on the verge of banning staff and talent from using Twitter to discuss their work.

Senior executives are reportedly calling to stop people using the social networking site after a number of sensitive announcements were leaked before they were ready to be announced. The broadcaster apparently feels that the practise is becoming disruptive to their marketing campaigns.

The news comes after Sophie Ellis-Bextor tweeted that she will be appearing in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's new sitcom Life's Too Short, alongside Sting, according to The Guardian. Stephen Mangan also apparently tweeted that a second series of Dirk Gently had been comissioned.

One executive at BBC Vision told the newspaper: "There's no doubt that Twitter is a popular communications phenomenon but it can also be quite disruptive if artists tweet about an appearance on a show or announce a new commission before the broadcaster is ready to go with the story.

"Broadcasters can have a number of reasons for wanting to delay press announcements, such as the deal not being done or contracts not being signed or, indeed, the broadcaster wanting to make a big splash with a great story at a particularly opportune moment. A random tweet can rob an artist of his or her potentially much louder fanfare."

A BBC spokesman said that the corporation already has guidelines on the use of social media when discussing subjects relating to the BBC.

He added: "Most talent tweeting fall under the personal usage bracket, and are advised by their agents/producers and we encourage them to read our guidelines."