A respected supplier has just told me that BT are doing away with 0800 numbers very soon. The supplier has therefore reprinted their catologues. Have I missed something or is this really going to happen?

I think you'll find he has goofed. They are doing away with the revenue share option of 0870 numbers.
The numbers will still exist but the option to rip people off with them will not.

John.H wrote on Jan 15^th, 2007 at 11:10am:

A respected supplier has just told me that BT are doing away with 0800 numbers very soon. The supplier has therefore reprinted their catologues. Have I missed something or is this really going to happen?

He is no doubt lieing in the hope of excusing their own use of 0870 numbers instead of 0800 numbers, the real reason for which will be to take the revenue share rake off.

There is zero chance BT is about to abolish 0800 numbers and anyhow its not their decision its down to Ofcom who run the UK numbering system.