21 MARCH 1998, Page 31

Credit where it's due

Sir: Why was James Delingpole's otherwise highly favourable review of Our Mutual Friend (Arts, 14 March) so grudging in its conclusion? If 'morons and philistines' real- ly were in charge of programming at the BBC, Our Mutual Friend would never have been commissioned in the first place. And did it not occur to him that trailing the pro- gramme — 'frantic plugging' in his words — was the best way of encouraging as many viewers as possible to watch an outstanding series?

Not since your radio critic praised Bis- marck in a Cardigan with the words 'a per- fect example of the sort of programme the BBC once did so well' have I come across such reluctance to give credit where credit is due.

Christopher Bland

BBC, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London WI