It is disappointing to learn this about Professor Mary Beard. The behaviour of those comment makers is repugnant. I dare say none have ever read her remarkable books or really knew who she was.

She was actually invited on to Question Time because she is a highly respected scholar and her views were something they wanted to ask for. Some people disagreed with her views and responded to an educated opinion with the type of comment one would expect from the stereotype Lincolnshire people who have been keeping it in the family for generations.