Of course, it is entirely possible that James Harding had no ambitions to become director general of the BBC, that the allure of heading his own, as yet undefined, news startup company was overwhelming. But let’s not get carried away. Tony Hall, a former BBC head of news, was summoned back from the Royal Opera House to run the corporation in crisis. He was already Lord H of Birkenhead, his distinguished career running towards retirement. He was summoned back, in extremis, to save a sinking ship and secure a new Royal Charter.

That job was done last year. Hall is 66. Perhaps, in true May mode, he’ll go on and on, as the briefers say; nevertheless, he’s on the final lap of his tenure.

But who comes next? There were three obvious contenders: Charlotte Moore, head of content (which intrinsically means BBC1 and 2); James Purnell, head of radio and education; and James Harding. And perhaps you’d put Anne Bulford, deputy DG, and Tim Davie, head of Worldwide, on a secondary list.

See, though, how quickly the possibilities shrink. Purnell is a former Labour cabinet minister. Cue Westminster thunder. Davie was acting DG five years ago. Why come back to him now? Bulford is a superb accountant and finance director, not a programme-maker. James Harding has gone.

Surely he knew he was out of the running. Surely, too, the sheer weight of admin was weighing him down. Harding, remember, left the top chair at the Times rather abruptly because Rupert Murdoch didn’t like his management style, including salary and headcount inflation (pure pot and kettle joy).

Is he now being held responsible for the shambles of top pay and the toil and trouble involved in sorting it out? Does his new search for a “different kind of news” mean something smaller and more manageable, where he doesn’t have to spend long days smoothing over hurt feelings or playing company PR?

We’ll see. Meanwhile nip down to Paddy Power and put a few bob on DG Moore, a splendidly talented woman in what’s rapidly becoming a woman’s world.