I’m now convinced Huw Edwards has never once changed his facial expression or modulated his tone of voice regardless of what goes on around him.
And yet, for the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding cocktail of medievalism and occasional grime star, his permanent note of dull surprise was strangely effective.
When guests include Reprezent Radio DJ Munya Chawawa alongside Sir John Major (both dressed in similar style), Edwards’ mildly raised eyebrow approach seemed appropriate.
Contrast with the naked glee of ITV’s Philip Schofield at his temporary elevation from day-time to prime-time, restrained only partially by co-presenter Julie Etchingham.
Meanwhile Sky, despite the often-confused presence of Kay Burley, opted for a slick but defiantly old-school, choral music inflected approach.
But is cold (even Germanic) efficiency really what we want from these events?
I found myself missing the terrestrial channels’ competitive spotting of incongruous celebrities.
Back on the BBC, co-presenters Kirsty Young and Dermot O’Leary handled a more serious turn of event as Baroness Lawrence, mother of Stephen, and Guardian columnist Afua Hirsch arrived to discuss the politics of it all.
Fortunately, not even Hirsch’s determined efforts to make it all about herself could derail the baroness’ characteristic eloquence and dignity.
Speaking of which, as Meghan arrived via Rolls Royce to be joined by her uniformed groom I couldn’t help but admire our various narrators’ self-control in resisting the urge to reference Harry’s past uniform-centred incidents.
In fairness, commentary of any kind became redundant by the time Most Reverend Michael Curry’s bizarre free-wheeling oration took centre stage.
As surreal rhetorical detours into bronze age history and the inequities of Instagram unfolded, it dawned that none of our familiar presenters could compete with this kind of box office.
When, post-match, Schofield tried to convince himself that Meghan had waved at him (she hadn’t), while Burley remained in her own world, Edwards’ quizzical countenance still felt like the best response.
