Just listened, with great interest, to David Hepworth's bootleg programme on Radio 4. Whilst the usual wit, insight and telling detail were all present and correct, I found I was growing increasingly concerned by the speed of his delivery . To me it seemed... very... slow. What had happened? Had his glasses grown misty with fond memory? Was he taking the opportunity to moonlight as English teacher to a passing group of monoglot Estonians? He just seemed to lack his usual rhythm. Why? Surely the BBC could not have had any concern about his intelligibility.

After all, those of us who follow the podcast can decipher most of what he says at normal, or even double speed. I have even had the privilege of conversing with the great man in person and I understood practically every word.

No, surely he was speaking under orders here . On Radio 4, the BBC's mission to explain has to be paced to accommodate those who never turned off after listening to Churchill's funeral, and it's a shame, because it robs fine broadcasters like Mr Hepworth of their natural voice. To my hearing anyway.

I confess, it annoys me.