The bankers are trying to crunch me. They’ll fail.” Rupert Murdoch looked frazzled but defiant. We were having what was supposed to be a friendly coffee, but this was 2006 and he was under siege from bankers who were trying to cope with his financial over-reach.

Rupert, 93, is aiming to cut three of his children out of the family trust, which would allow his most conservative son to call the shots without interference

Rupert Murdoch argues that his younger children could dilute Fox News’ right-wing appeal, risking its audience; he believes his eldest child Lachlan will keep the broadcaster’s hard-right stance