‘What about Channel 4’s scheduling this year?’ asks Fi hopefully.

‘Just as strong,’ adds Ricky, embarrassed to be twisting the knife. ‘They have everything. Arts, music, drama, comedy, entertainment, lifestyle, leisure, documentaries, film premières and something called “4 later”.’

‘What’s that – porn?’ asks Mark.

‘I don’t expect they even need porn,’ answers Tom.

I read the descriptor. ‘It’s porn,’ I assure. No one knows whether we should be glad that C4 have resorted to this or depressed because it will be a crowd pleaser. I clap my hands. ‘OK, to business. No idea is a daft idea, any thoughts, please?’ I pick up the marker and stand with my pen poised in front of the flip chart.

Silence.

‘Come on,’ I encourage. ‘Don’t let those schedules intimidate you. I really think you can overestimate a period drama with high production values, big stars and great plots. I think they are too highbrow. Let’s catch another niche market.’

Fi gets it. ‘Drama is too expensive for TV6. Entertainment is cheap.’

‘Exactly,’ I bolster. ‘With entertainment the main outgoing is people’s pride and common sense.’

‘What about a game show?’ offers Tom. The look on his face suggests that he thinks he’s just invented electricity.

‘Good,’ I assure. He’ll be the first to go, when the P45s are being dished up. ‘Now try and think of what type of game show.’ I consider whether, if the worst comes to the worst, I could retrain as a primary school teacher. I have all the core skills.

We bandy a few game show ideas around but they’ve all been done before. Often on bigger budgets than we have available. We talk it round and round.