Sir,
I write in response to the article by Nathan Morley in last Friday’s issue of Cyprus Mail (‘The BBC needs stars like Brand’).
The ongoing furore concerning Messrs Ross and Brand looks like running out of steam. Lacking real talent, these yobbish, middle aged ‘lads’ ought to know better, but for some reason, they think it’s OK to insult decent people in public.
Thank heaven their unpleasant story is being eclipsed by someone fresh, clean and young: a certain Lewis Hamilton, who shows all the signs of becoming that rare creature, a genuine Celebrity. As he brings further glory to an extraordinary sporting year, Britons can be justifiably proud of him and his ilk.
Ross and Brand are quite another kettle of fish. Their unwarranted attack on an elderly and respected gentleman and his granddaughter has brought shame on the BBC. The public have responded in a positive way in showing their disgust. Britain and her people were once world renowned for their good manners, but over recent years, this image has been systematically demolished.
It is now ‘open season’ for insulting people and using language that a few years ago was confined to the barrack room. Russell Brand has had the decency to resign, while Jonathan Ross is hanging on by his fingernails, missing a miniscule portion of his vulgar salaryas he waits to be reinstated. In my opinion, Mr Ross should have been sacked on the spot. There must be plenty more where he came from.
Persuading gullible members of the public to take part in cheap TV programmes that make fun of physical defects must be easy. I guess 15 minutes of fame must seem worthwhile, whatever the cost in embarrassment and scorn. The downward trend began with Ann Robinson’s ‘Weakest Link’ which poses as a serious quiz game but is an excuse for Ann to make cruel personal remarks about participants’ dress, hairstyle, weight, longevity: you name it, she says it!
Since then, the slippery slope – in the cause of ‘getting them to feel better about themselves’, assembling a crowd of semi naked women of all shapes, sizes and ages, to be hosed down in the studio. So this represents entertainment.
Even today, drama, documentaries and newscasting are par excellence. At one time, comedy, too, was the stuff of legend. The BBC was founded as standard bearer for all that is best in television. If the quality of entertainment continues to deteriorate, the annual licence fee, which by law, must be paid, should be abandoned. Lord Reith the BBC’s founding father, must be turning in his grave.
Rita Southgate
Pissouri
