The BBC is an organisation that in my experience is, generally, benevolent; and the broadcasting regulator Ofcom is full of good intentions too. But this week they have between them managed to concoct a policy that could weaken the corporation and increase dissatisfaction among its audiences.

In its annual report on the BBC, Ofcom swooped on what it saw as a greater unhappiness with programming among audiences in lower socio-economic groups – even calling them ‘disenfranchised’.