I was a BBC engineer for more than 30 years until my retirement. In 1972, I was responsible for building an installation in Munich to provide the BBC coverage of the Olympic Games.

My budget was half a million pounds which I underspent and from which the BBC made over 60 hours of programme. American broadcasters built a lavish £5m installation and made less than half the hours.

When the tragedy of the Israeli massacre occurred, BBC viewers had picture coverage before 9am. The Americans were struggling two hours
later and then only succeeded with BBC help. So much for BBC inefficiency.

Your correspondent who criticises the World Service might do well to learn something about it. In countries worldwide, when an assassination or a revolution occurs, people turn en masse to the BBC as one of the very few news sources independent of either commercial or direct government control.

Someone much more knowledgeable than me commented that the World Service, which costs annually less than the price of a fighter jet, does more for our influence overseas than the entire Royal Air Force.

As for star salaries, the BBC is in a competitive market. Thirty-odd years ago, Morecambe and Wise were the highest paid stars in British television.

Their 1977 BBC Christmas show pulled in almost 29 million viewers, over half of the population. A few months later, they were enticed to ITV for five times as much pay. Much more recently, Natasha Kaplinsky left the BBC, again for a massive increase than what the BBC were prepared to pay.

In my opinion, Ross and Brand would be overpaid on the minimum wage, but millions of viewers and listeners clearly disagree. As for the Andrew Sachs controversy, nobody would expect anything but gutter standards from either Ross or Brand. My criticism is of those on the editorial staff who, in not editing out such grossly offensive material, show such a lack of judgment that they are clearly in the wrong job.

Finally, as a viewer, I strongly disagree with those who think the BBC should be closed down altogether. I would not attend a symphony concert or a play where the action was stopped every 10 minutes to advertise toothpaste.

I don't like watching television in that manner either.


Lewis Hamilton races ahead of Brown

From: John Abbott, Newland Avenue, Hull.

NOBODY, I trust, would deny Gordon Brown (Yorkshire Post, November 3) the right to congratulate Lewis Hamilton on his magnificent achievement in becoming Formula One world champion at the age of 23. Most of us would probably wish to do likewise.

Yet the comparison between the two men may be instructive. Hamilton has won nine Grands Prix in two seasons, has achieved podium finishes on many occasions and is the youngest world champion. Gordon Brown, on the other hand, has introduced 111 stealth taxes, presided over a government that keeps losing secrets, stifled initiative with yards of red tape, jacked government debt way up and offers
only doctrinaire nationalisation as a solution
to Britain's place in a dangerous global economic climate.

Three guesses which of these two men is more worthy of our respect – our new Formula One World Champion or our front engined 2½ litre Prime Minister.