When the BBC made a cartoon to educate schoolchildren about life in Roman Britain, it was hardly expecting controversy.

But the inclusion of a high-ranking black soldier in its depiction of a ‘typical Roman family’ has caused an almighty fall-out, with the historian Mary Beard facing a barrage of abuse for arguing that it was historically correct.

Prof Beard, a Cambridge University classicist and television presenter, said the cartoon was “indeed pretty accurate”, adding that “there’s plenty of firm evidence for ethnic diversity in Roman Britain”.

She made her comments on Twitter, and the response was swift. Users of the social media site dubbed her a “batty old broad” and a “pretentious know-nothing”, despite her scholarly record.