Fry’s latest comments renew his fierce attack last month on “infantilism” at the BBC, when he described flagship family dramas such as Merlin and Doctor Who as being “like a chicken nugget”.
In an interview with today’s Radio Times, Fry said about his recent series on Wagner: “I think programmes only work if they matter to you, because I think audiences are smart - even though you wouldn’t believe the BBC thinks so - and one thing they are particularly smart about is when a presenter is faking. Because I have so many passions I don’t want to do things I’m not genuinely interested in.”
Fry said that he did not wish to provoke a “sandstorm of horror” with his new comments, even though they come just a month after a lecture at Bafta in which he said that “Infantilism’s the problem. It’s just shocking. The only dramas the BBC will boast about are Merlin and Doctor Who, which are fine but they’re children’s programmes. They’re not for adults. They are like a chicken nugget.

I have to agree –programme like Horizon used to be really technical and you used to have to listen hard to understand them – now any science programmes seemed to be aimed at illiterate chavs . By all means have basic science programs (like Brainiac) but lets have something that’s a little more in-depth

I get fed up when an interviewer or anchor on the news channel interrupts and answer to explain what an already obvious acronym stands for. I already know. If someone doesn't they can go look it up, and it they can't even do that just ignore them.

Well Panorama has been dumbed down as much as possible. It has not attracted the chavs, and it has lost its core audience. The same could be said of Horizon. Too many programs aim to appeal to the masses rather than be a challenge. Overall it is a damn sight better than ITV, almost nothing science related.