Throughout her long and eventful life, Queen Elizabeth II famously kept out of politics.
However, in death she has, hopefully, caused one or two people to calmly reflect on one particular political hot potato: The future of the BBC.
Other channels may well be available. But, as has so often been the case over the past 100 years, in its hour of need much of the nation turned to the BBC.
When the news of Her Majesty’s death broke a week ago, the vast majority of those who wanted to follow it on television voted with their remotes.
With all due respect to the efforts of ITV, Sky News and the noisy neighbours at GB News and TalkTV, I must admit I did likewise.
The question was would the BBC still be able to deliver in this fractured and frantic day and age?
There have been one or two scuffs and stumbles along the way for sure.
Thankfully, on the whole, I’m pleased to report that at the time of writing the BBC has yet to put a major foot wrong in its coverage of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
I even agreed with its decision to postpone the launch of Strictly Come Dancing. And that was despite JJ Chalmers revealing to Huw Edwards on Monday that the late Queen was a big fan of the show.
That wasn’t the most important of the interviews Edwards has performed during what has been a marathon set of shifts.
Honestly, he’s been on air so much I’m still fully expecting to switch on the TV at some point over the weekend and see the cleaners sweeping and dusting around him.
The Strictly chat with Chalmers was, though, a perfect example of how Edwards – and the likes of Clive Myrie, Fiona Bruce and the BBC Breakfast team – have consistently got the tone right.
The big challenge was to strike a balance between respecting and upholding all the establishment pomp and tradition, and offering the viewers the chance to remember and celebrate – in human terms – a woman who meant so much to so many.
The BBC may not be perfect, but this week it once again proved that when it’s good it is utterly invaluable.
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