I think I’ll direct everyone here this morning, to the most recent edition of the Private Eye podcast. I think it is worth a watch because, amid the usual mixture of political comment and wit, about half an hour into the programme, Hislop and co. start talking about the BBC. They aren’t entirely complementary of course, but I found their conversation notable for the way they outline just how much soft power the Beeb exerts. As an organisation it is almost unique, known across the world as a source of reliable, dependable news. It is used as a bastion of information not just by english speakers or UK expats, but by a vast range of people. Thus, as the guys in the podcast lay out, things like the World Service are something to hold dear and defend.