2 MARCH 1974, Page 23

Will

Waspe

The animosity displayed by so many television reviewers towards the BBC and the ITV companies for their extensive coverage of the general election does not surprise Waspe, who knows them to be an essentially shallow and trivia-minded lot. Perhaps they feel themselves to be echoing the complaints of the majority of viewers when they squeal about the re-slotting of serials, comedy shows and old films to accommodate the politicians. I suspect — and hope — that their readers are more concerned than they are about the issues of the day.

Insular panel

In a bizarre display of petulance most of the members of the Arts Council's art panel seem to have resigned_ over the Council's decision to take over the Hayward Gallery for a British Theatre Exhibition for six months next year. The exhibition is being organised in connection with the opening of the adjoining National Theatre building, an event that has been awaited impatiently for half a century and outweighing in importance and national prestige the handful of art shows that would otherwise occupy the Hayward — as would be appreciated by anyone not cocooned in the affairs of the cloistered little art world.

Young hopeful

As an interested but non-expert observer, I do not presume to put an election opinion in this column, but cannot forbear offering an unwaspe-ish "Good luck" to my colleague, ballet critic Robin Young, in his Liberal endeavours at Orpington.