When you’re a big-name journalist hosting a debate with some of accountancy’s biggest names, it’s vital that you ask the right questions, control audience intervention and show no respect for reputation.

This was the challenge facing The Today Programme’s John Humphrys at last week’s Global Public Policy Symposium. Questioning Deloitte chief executive William Parrett over matters of audit quality, he was faced with a heckler. Sensing conflict, Humphrys allowed said heckler the floor. Unfortunately the only comment the audience member wanted to make was that Humphries had been calling Bill ‘Jim’.

His response: ‘Bill, Jim, whatever.’