Dumbing Downstairs With Full Confidence of Management

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has the full confidence of the Prime Minister. That's him guaranteed to be gracing the dole queue by the end of the week then.

Was watching an item on the local news last night about a bunch of IKEA managers undergoing a management training exercise comprising rounding up sheep into a pen. If rounding up sheep is such a good management training exercise, then why are shepherds not running our top companies?

Thinking about it, however, I guess rounding up sheep is quite pertinent to rounding up shoppers in IKEA. Doesn't say much for the average shopper though...

The BBC has confirmed a third series of the period drama Upstairs Downstairs will not be commissioned. The show was revived in 2010, where the first episode drew 8.8 million viewers. But the final episode of the last series, attracted 5.22 million.

I never watched it, but that says it all really; the BBC is more interested in audience figures than quality TV and will henceforth be televising only wall-to-wall drivel designed for the brain dead. 

Here are two extracts from the BBC Charter under the heading of Public Purpose:

(b) promoting education and learning;

(c) stimulating creativity and cultural excellence.

I guess that means Homes Under the Hammer, Cash in the Attic, Bargain Hunt, Escape to the Country, The Apprentice and Eastenders. Lord Reith must be spinning in his grave like a top.

I think Ab Fab was the last decent comedy program the BBC commissioned - can't remember  anything memorable since then. Oh for the days of Steptoe & Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Dad's Army, Morecambe & Wise, The Two Ronnies, Fawlty Towers, The Good Life, Yes Minister, Porridge, Father Ted (OK, that last one wasn't the BBC, but I bet they wish it was) - I'm sounding like an old grump (which I am).