Parrots, microwave ovens and the King of Scotland feature in the list of implausible excuses for not having a TV Licence.

One Plymouth resident claimed his TV was only used to send his pet goldfish to sleep while another viewer from Lincoln claimed her TV was only on for her parrot, called Captain Jack Sparrow, so he could learn the theme tune to Bargain Hunt.

Pets continue to dominate the list of excuses as one West Midlands viewer informed TV Licensing that she couldn’t pay for her TV licence as her payment card had been eaten by her hamster and she was waiting for it to “come out the other end”.

Most shockingly, a Glasgow resident told a TV Licensing Officer he didn’t need a licence as he simply stole his neighbour’s signal.

In Northumbria, one viewer hoped he could escape paying for a TV licence and the subsequent fine by claiming he was the “King of Scotland”.

Watching live TV without a licence is illegal

Jason Hill, TV Licensing spokesperson, said: “We’re not impressed with the creative approach to excuses, as watching or recording live TV without a licence is against the law.

“Even though we’re effective at catching evaders, we’d always prefer people pay than risk a maximum £1,000 fine.”

Hill added that for those who may find it difficult to pay in one go, TV Licensing offers a range of payment options to spread the cost.