Chris Blackhurst: Why, if James Murdoch makes someone an offer, they can refuse

We don’t know for sure that it was James Murdoch. Ofcom won’t say it was him, Murdoch won’t comment either.

But someone threatened Ed Richards, the head of Ofcom in his office: “We know who you are, we know who your friends are and we know where you live.”

Guests at Richards’ leaving party where he disclosed the encounter in his speech, reported the Mail on Sunday, believed he was referring to James.

Actually, I was not sure. I could think of one or two other media barons who would say such a thing.

Still, assuming it was James — because Ofcom would not play ball over News Corporation’s attempt to acquire 100% of BSkyB — what does it say about him? We’ve know that James has anger issues. In the run-up to the 2010 general election, in the company of Rebekah Brooks, he marched into the offices of the then Independent editor, Simon Kelner and castigated him for a poster knocking the supposed influence of his father. The Indy advertisement read: “Rupert Murdoch won’t decide this election — you will”.

Once, I returned home to find a message on the ex-directory house phone. “Hello Chris, it’s XX. I bet you’re not pleased to hear from me, because you must realise this phone call means I know where you live.”

He was right. I was absolutely petrified. But then he was someone genuinely scary. If James Murdoch left such a message I would probably laugh.

And that’s the difference. If he stood in my office saying “we know where you live” and presumably, red in the face (he blushes easily), shaking and stamping his foot, I suspect that I would be wanting to giggle uncontrollably.

But if his dad had said that, in his inimitable growl, I admit, I might feel a frisson of terror. It’s the tragedy of James that he has none of his father’s stature, nothing of his fearsome reputation. Young as he is, I suspect he never will. When Murdoch Snr walks into a crowded room, there’s a reaction. Sometimes it falls silent. James, for all his desperation and desire, can never achieve that presence.

It’s not a question of track record; it’s to do with something more intangible, with aura. For the most impressive, a stare alone is often all its takes.