I was impressed by Mrs Hodge and the select committee she chairs while quizzing various senior executives within the BBC about over-payments to outgoing executives.

I was less impressed with the arrogant reply from Mark Thompson, the former director general about a huge pay-off to Mr Brydon.

Why does Lord Patten speak of “market rates” when the BBC is effectively in the public sector?

The fact is senior executives (not the humble staff) were paid well over and above their contractual entitlements, at public expense.

Betty Childs, Westbourne Villas, Hove