I'm much more concerned about their publicly embarrassing (and indeed trivialising Manuel's young granddaughter. But if the incident hadn't identified real people, it would have been hysterically funny. This, however, is off the point. Procedure ought to, but did not, ensure that the voicemails were not broadcast. If they hadn't been, the circus wouldn't have happened. A lack of tar on the ship leading to the loss of the entire war . . . sort of thing.

(Murdoch fired me from the Sunday Times, I'm very proud to say).