In a briefing note published by the Liberal Democrats on Wednesday, the party said the recent report by Richard Hooper had highlighted that the Royal Mail was a company "on the brink".

BBC: Royal Mail worker

Among the current crop of regulators, Richard Hooper, the chairman of the Radio Authority, wins most praise and has long advocated both the creation of an Ofcom and reform of outmoded media legislation.

ECONOMIST: Regulating communications

In a paper printed in the British Medical Journal, Tim Crayford, Richard Hooper and Sarah Evans reported that the mortality rate for characters in the television soap operas Coronation Street and EastEnders exceeded those of bomb disposal experts and racing drivers.

BBC: How unrealistic is murder on television?