Apparently Sir Cliff Richard is considering taking legal action against the BBC for the invasion of privacy suffered when the Corporation dispatched a helicopter and a small army of reporters to broadcast live a police raid on his South Yorkshire home in August this year.

The raid was part of the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse made against virtually every public celebrity in the country. Of course, a substantial number of those investigations were justified and none more so than that into the behaviour of the late Jimmy Saville. The problem is that the Saville scandal has resulted in a witch hunt with many allegations proving groundless and shown to be no more than an attempt by certain people to get rich quick on the back of spurious compensation claims.

It looks as though the investigation into Sir Cliff Richard falls into that category. If no police charges follow and it is proven that the BBC liaised with South Yorkshire police to get an exclusive on the raid then I hope Cliff Richard does take legal action.

For our once widely respected national broadcaster to behave in this way is unforgivable. This is not responsible reporting, this is victimisation and sensationalism and it only adds fuel to the arguments of those who wish to do away with the near £150 television licence fee that we pay each year for the benefit of the BBC.

If the BBC wishes to conduct its affairs in such a grubby manner it is not worthy of our money. Maybe it should be forced to compete in the open market place with all the other television stations. If this means the showing of commercials on the BBC, so be it.