15 AUGUST 1981, Page 17

Screen time

Sir: Like most people of a liberal persuasion, Paul Johnson excepted (8 August), I Was greatly disappointed by the refusal of the BBC to allow E.P. Thompson the guest spot on this year's Dimbleby Lecture. Has Professor Thompson considered the alternatives, however? There is nothing to stop him appearing on the Muppet Show, for instance, a programme which has a certain advantage over the Dimbleby Lecture; more people watch it.

Let us not forget that President Reagan's election campaign received a considerable boost from the timely screening of Bedtime for Bonzo, a film, you will recall, in which the then Mr Reagan appeared as the surrogate father of a lovable chimpanzee.

Consequently I feel that the moral support of messrs Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear would greatly benefit the cause of CND, not least by providing that redoubtable movement with a human face. Martin Humphrey 28 Chockley's Drive, Telford, Salop.