Everyone knows that Private Eye is not enormously keen on Capita, or ‘Crapita’ as it calls the company. Every issue is usually peppered with stories about how the outsourcing company has been involved in another public sector ‘cock-up’, slinging mud at the FTSE 100 group.

So what does Gordon Hurst, the group’s FD interviewed in the 15 June issue, make of the magazine that loves to hate his company?

Does he read it?

‘No’, he says, before pausing for thought. ‘Ian Hislop is a very funny man,’ he adds diplomatically, if in somewhat tight-lipped fashion. TS doubts whether the Eye will call off the dogs yet.