S hould the commanding officer of one of Britain’s four Trident nuclear submarines lose contact with their superiors during a future conflict, they know what to do. At exactly 6am GMT they must tune into BBC Radio 4’s Today program. If there’s no broadcast they should assume the UK no longer exists, unseal a pre-written letter from the prime minister and take action against the enemy accordingly.

It’s a so far thankfully hypothetical vignette that demonstrates the centrality both literally and symbolically of the British Broadcasting Corporation to the country it serves.

So bound up is the BBC in the nation’s life that it’s come to be much more than mere broadcaster. In the 103 years since it took to the airwaves, it’s effectively become another arm of the state. So with the Beeb in tro

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