As I listen to The Now Show, a weekly topical / satirical exposé on the wireless, they're doing a sketch about just how few words are needed to start a smear (in particular over what high-ranking politicians or their relatives may or may not be up to), I am prompted to point out that I'm not "raining on anybody's parade".

I'd never before heard of this Scottish person who appeared on a TV programme which I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than watch, and will take great care never to let her penetrate my radar again. I'd break Olympic records running to escape renditions of the execrable dumbing down of Victor Hugo's work. What I fail to understand is why anyone else should be arsed to listen / watch this musical bilge (I actually lasted three bars . . . ) It's a hype, obviously. The sole question is . . . why? It's a million miles from falling into the remit of what this forum is supposed to be about.