A rather too British Broadcasting Corp

[Commentary] There are many claims to the title of Britain’s national sport: cricket, soccer, grumbling about the weather and now, perhaps even cycling. But high in any potential list is attacking the BBC and, as the country’s Olympic heroes began to rack up medals, so the practitioners of the hallowed sport of Beeb-bashing were not left behind in the race for glory.

As the British Olympic gold rush grew, the BBC faced a choice of tone: flagrant partisanship or lofty coverage of a great international spectacle. During the Gulf and Bosnian wars, the BBC drew criticism for its dispassionate, reported approach to the conflict. It was not about to make the same mistake again. As Sir Chris Hoy went over the top in the velodrome, the BBC commentators went over the top with him. Never again will a director-general stand accused of aiding the enemy. The sports division has shown the way, though we might stop short of swapping some pretty boy from Countryfile for a grizzled war correspondent next time a British force hits the suburbs of Helmand. Do we really want a commentary that runs: “Come on, we’re going in; the Taliban are being cut down by our gunships, our boys are wiping them out. YEEEEES”.