Heard the one about the ‘generous’ tooth fairy?

Details were revealed as the organisation issued a reminder for people to pay the fee and avoid prosecution.

“My son lost his tooth then the next day we found the TV under the stairs. We thought it was a present from the tooth fairy so didn’t need a TV Licence” was number two in the list of real-life excuses given in Northern Ireland in 2014 by people caught watching without a licence.

Between 94 and 95 per cent of homes across the UK are correctly licensed, but a small minority of people continue to offer decidedly dodgy excuses when caught evading.

Offerings ranged from the generous tooth fairy to the canine loving TV owner who said: “My dog watches TV and I thought the dog licence covered it.”

Deborah King, TV Licensing spokesperson, said: “We are effective at catching evaders but it’s not surprising a few of those caught will try and avoid taking responsibility. Fewer than two per cent of households only watch catch up TV, so the vast majority of homes still need a TV licence. Some of the humour and originality in this year’s excuses provided a laugh for our enquiry officers and customer service centre staff, but behind every excuse is someone who has been caught watching or recording live TV without a licence.

“We would much rather people buy a TV licence, which they can pay for either in one go, or in smaller weekly or monthly instalments, than make a fanciful excuse and face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.”

Consultant psychologist Kerry Daynes explains why people make up excuses rather than tell the truth. “We tell little white lies all the time, usually to lubricate passage through our daily lives and often to make other people feel better.

“It is interesting that the more outlandish excuses have been judged by the evader as more socially acceptable, and therefore less embarrassing than the truth, whilst others may offer an extraordinary reason as a covert way of showing contempt. But even the most forgiving of people would struggle to be convinced by the one about the tooth fairy…”

A BBC spokesman added: “At just £2.80 a week per household the BBC provides excellent value for money. Low evasion rates are effectively saving each licence fee payer £15.”