In a damning indictment of modern television, John Cleese last night rounded on the "hard-headed businessmen" who he blamed for the declining standards in the industry.
"From the fifties, right through to the late eighties, the good people of Britain – and some of the others – were able to enjoy the least bad television in the world," said the 70-year-old star of Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus and The Frost Report.
"During these glorious days, the word 'quality' was still to be heard in planning meetings. This era came to a stumbling halt when ITV was handed over to hard-headed businessmen, and the BBC decided it was their duty to follow them downmarket." In a message that was read out at last night's Media Society dinner at the Landmark Hotel in London to honour his old friend Lord Bragg, Cleese added that, as someone who was lucky enough to work in British television during this "happy time", he felt Bragg epitomised the golden age of television.

Of course there's a load of tripe on TV but I've seen programs that have opened me up to a world I wouldnt have seen otherwise. Obviously I'm not referring to Celebrity Britain's Got The Dancing Factor On Ice but some of the recent (BBC) documentaries over the last few years have been amazing.

I'm down to HIGNFY, The Blame Game (NI show), that rock band thing on BBC2 (soon to end), Charlie Brooker (no idea what way Four are running that ) and the sort of shows on specific things like design (war machines!) and application (Hammond's shows etc).

I think I'd only add the odd sporting event and QI to that list.

QI is excellant. Though the basic premise that the BBC and ITV are chasing ratings has increased the dross content considerably. How long has it been since ITV have done a decent drama? Only one I can think of is Doc Martin.