Ofcom has ruled that RT and Alex Salmond breached broadcasting regulations after it was revealed that four out of six tweets read out on the pilot of the current affairs show came from people with a connection either to it or the former First Minister of Scotland.

In the first episode of the Alex Salmond Show, which aired on the Kremlin-funded station at 7.30am on 16 November last year, Salmond answered a series of questions which seemingly came from the public.

He told viewers he had received “an avalanche” of tweets and emails over the preceding week.