The appearance of Rupert and James Murdoch before the House of Commons media select committee was more than a piece of theatre. Over three hours, including an enforced break after a custard pie attack, MPs and the watching world were treated to a rare insight into the management of the Murdoch empire.

The hearing exposed the extent to which Rupert Murdoch and his heir apparent were unable or unwilling to account for criminal behaviour at News Corp’s British newspaper subsidiary, specifically the phone-hacking scandal which has convulsed the nation.

While expressing contrition, Rupert Murdoch exonerated all the senior executives who ran the UK business during the relevant period, including Rebekah Brooks, her predecessor, Les Hinton, and James Murdoch himself.