what happened to all the wonderful plays, documentaries and really good series that BBC used to serve up?

Did you miss the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, Stargazing, The Story of Scottish Art, Stonehenge: a Timewatch Guide, Death Camp Treblinka: Survivor Stories, Winterwatch, Trust Me, I'm a Doctor?

All BBC, and the last six were all on last night...

The problem, as I see it, with TV, is the necessity to fill all the channels 24 hours a day, plus the multiplicity of channels. So, while there's still a good core of intelligent and watchable programmes, that core is surrounded by an immense amount of fluff. (But many people are attracted to fluff).

Classic television from the past like the Civilization series and Monitor stood more in isolation than sucj programmes would these days.

Now, back to Casualty... (I'll get me coat).