But viewers were so maddened by its 'hysterical' TV coverage that the broadcaster set up an online form to cope with a surge in complaints. Former News at One presenter Simon McCoy questioning the scale of the operation, while ex-minister Chris Mullins called the 'North Korea-style' simulcast a 'big mistake'.
Others turned off their TV sets in droves, with overnight ratings showing that BBC Two viewers plunged by 64 per cent compared to last week while ratings for BBC One - the channel to which Britons usually turn at moments of national significance - fell by six per cent on the previous week.