*r eleVision
Freaks
Richard Ingrams
The World Cup fiasco, which is something that ought to be investigated by the Mono Polies Commission, has in some ways come
as a welcome relief. On Sunday for example which was a beautiful day I was able to stay out late transplanting marrows secure in the knowledge that I was not missing anything on the screen. Even the Muppets Bob Hope show which, you will remember, I enjoyed so much that I wrote in vain to the Editor of the Spectator demanding the use of a videotape recorder, recorder, had been postponed to make 'ay for the football. Coming inside when it uegan to get dark at about half past nine, I examined the schedules and finding that there was nothing whatever to tempt me, retired to bed with a clear conscience. It is ,surprising how a few transplanted marrows leave one with a sense of achievement and !_antent that no amount of television watching can give. Meanwhile one anomaly is worth noting. If the spectator decided for several months In the year to omit all book reviews, readers ,swould rightly feel a bit narked and puzzled. laut this is exactly what the BBC does. Read ,111 About It and the Book Programme are Looth currently resting, despite the fact that both
are being relentlessly churned out by Lord Weidenfeld and others. As in so many eases it is hard to understand the BBC's
attitude. If they think that books are worth reviewing then they ought to be reviewed regularly throughout the year. The halfco. ek approach suggests that no one has a view on the subject. The same is true of Tonight (Thames). I "ave probably observed before that if you PnI on your daily Current Affairs progtaMme, or whatever you like to call it, ePremely late at night, it suggests that you `lon't attach too much importance to Current Affairs. I was not surprised to read that 14,iehael Townson, the erstwhile editor of °night, who had improved the programme ao end, had left the Corporation to take a it:Db at Thames. There were some moans at t2e time from BBC officials about the fact at Independent Companies are able to ,PaY much higher salaries. But in my experi'nee money is not the main factor on such ecasions. I am certain that Comrade ownson was a bit fed up with producing Pod material which was then wasted on luasomniacs and taxi-drivers while the rest of s were getting our Eight Hours. Under its new editor, Roger Bolton, the _Programme has become erratic and sensational. On Monday the whole thing was g_ wen over to an old-fashioned debate about Pital punishment on the flimsy excuse 'flat some Tory MPs have demanded a eferendum on the subject. It was rather
pointless then, that of the four Parliamentarians assembled in the studio — Messrs Maudling, Carr, Lyons and the appalling Eldon Griffiths — not one was in favour of the referendum. Instead they rehearsed the familiar old arguments with the help of such familiar old bores as Louis Blom-Cooper and the former public executioner Albert Pierrepoint. The latter provided the only moment of excitement in the debate by saying what he wasn't 'supposed to say. On the basis of his memoirs he was expected to support the abolition of the death penalty but to the surprise of the chairman, Robin Day, it now appeared as if he had reverted to type and come out in favour of restoration. 'This is very significant', cried Eldon Griffiths. 'He has changed his view.' I found it hard to share Eldon's excitement at the ex-hangman's volte-face. In fact as the debate wound on toward midnight I found it hard to feel any excitement at all about anything. But I'm afraid with the election looming up there will be many more such phoney farragos as Tory backwoodsmen trying to drum up the Law and Order freaks.
There are, however, welcome signs that some politicians are keeping clear of the box. Earlier, in the Panorama discussion about Russian involvement in Africa it was left to a man with a pipe called Lord Hatch to put the Government case. As Harold Ross would have asked — Who's he? The BBC remained silent on the subject, as if they too were in some doubt.
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