Same as hospitals. The BBC, done well, is a great public asset. It is one of the most effective engines of British soft power. It has to be a reliable source of information. It innovates television by not prioritising a profit motive.

Laugh it up. Yes that's all gone to shit now, but what we've got is still better than not having it (source: have lived long term in countries without state broadcasting), and hopefully it can excel at its core functions one day. Again: that's what we hope for with our other public services that were wrecked by the Tories.