30 JANUARY 1942, Page 14

MUSIC AND THE B.B.C.

SIR,—It is to be hoped that neither me Dean of Lichfield not Mr. Philip Guedalla will feel gratified at the derogatory contrast drawn by one of your correspondents between Tommy Handley's broad- casts and their own. fo describe his high-spirited patter as meaning- less is to show the lack of a sufficiently nimble sense of humour. Tommy Handley's Friday evening charivari in puns, passwords and drolleries is the brightest contemporary manifestation of the British talent for broad farce. I recommend to Mr. Norman E. Hooley the broadcast reverie by Sir MAX Beerbohm on the English music halls (commented on by " Janus " and reprinted in The Listener), and especially the final paragraph with its gentle derision of the over-solemn