A small bar near Grays Inn Road has hosted a succession of farewell drinks over the past weeks and months. I was in for a small reunion, but soon former colleagues began popping up for a double whammy – another leaving do.

ITV News has been a great recruiting ground for Al Jazeera English. Senior ITV News execs like Al Anstey, now deputy director at AJI, have reassured leavers that the new operation means business. So too has the Emir’s cash.

With the contract to produce the news coming up ITV network centre might want to reflect on the fact that they should talk up rather than down their most effective public service commitment. More cost cutting could leave them open to losing the last best thing they have.