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Quote by A. A. Gill

“Is it a particularly British trait to so utterly adore truly appalling men, from Tony Hancock through to Steptoe and Alf Garnett, Captain Mainwaring, Rigsby, Del Boy, Victor Meldrew and on to David Brent from The Office. The most deeply adored characters are all simply vile.”

Quote by A. A. Gill

Author

A. A. Gill was a British writer renowned for his sharp wit and incisive observations. He was a journalist, critic, and author, contributing to publications such as The Sunday Times, The Observer, and The Daily Telegraph. His writing covered a diverse array of topics, from travel and food to art and culture. more

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“Beautifully shot, impeccably paced, it was a clear, unrelenting look at the National Trust, its friends and enemies, and it makes you want to burn your passport and beg the Luftwaffe to have another go.”

Want Looks Enemy Clear Television Shots Passports Unrelenting Friends And Enemies

Author:A. A. Gill

“Television in the 1960s & 70s had just as much dross and the programmes were a lot more tediously patronising than they are now. Memory truncates occasional gems into a glittering skein of brilliance. More television, more channels means more good television and, of course, more bad. The same equation applies to publishing, film and, I expect, sumo wrestling.”

Mean Film Courses Memories Television Wrestling Publishing Equations 1960s Occasional Brilliance Programmes Gems Dross

Author:A. A. Gill

“I still secretly believe that afternoons are the time for the test card and you shouldn't watch television when the sun is out.”

Believe Stills Watches Sun Television Tests Cards Afternoon

Author:A. A. Gill

“An American has invented a remote control that will turn off any telly within a 20ft radius. What a marvellous device! What a splendid invention! What a really helpful and improving way of devoting your time to building something that turns off culture. Next week, I'm instigating Burn a Book Week, to encourage even more conversation. I've come up with a fantastic little device which I'll call a box of matches.”

“Get up now and go and find Robert Kilroy-Silk. Smile in a warm, friendly sort of way, then punch him on the nose. Now go and find Robert on television, despite my best endeavours, this is still relatively easy to do. Wait for a close-up, same smile, and punch him on the nose. If you followed the instructions carefully, you will have noticed a distinct difference. On the one hand, you were suffused with a sense of public-spirited righteousness; on the other, you're probably dribbling blood. That's the difference between reality in life and reality on television.”

Ifs Way Stills Hands Reality Easy Waiting Differences Blood Television Warm Despite Get Up Noses Friendly Righteousness Instruction Silk Endeavour Spirited

Author:A. A. Gill

“The good television of today is probably better than the best television of the old days. The bad television of today is worse. It is not only bad - it is damaging, meretricious, seedy and cynical.”

Today Television Cynical Old Days

Author:John Humphrys

“With the advent of 24-hour Sky News, the News Flash has been greatly devalued. Time was, when something unimaginably horrendous had to happen before it was deemed worthy of a News Flash. At least one, preferably two, and ideally all four horsemen of the apocalypse would have to be involved.”

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Author:Declan Lynch

“Advocates of dumbing down should note the wonderfully perverse fact that 'University Challenge' and 'Mastermind' were watched by millions who could hardly even understand the questions, let alone ejaculate the answers. Maybe they just liked to watch smart people sweating.”

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Author:Declan Lynch

“We're so screwed up with our principles. We used to mock Japanese game shows where they ate bugs. Now we're doing the same, if not worse. It's terrifying... It seems the better the quality, the more you're penalised... There are some very good people in television, but a lot of fools running it. They put fame ahead of talent and think someone from 'EastEnders' will put bums on seats.”

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Author:Philip Glenister

“Americans think the only funny Brits are John Cleese, Benny Hill and whoever makes our toothpaste. They're not laughing with us, they are laughing at us.”

Thinking Laughing Television Hills Brits Toothpaste

Author:A. A. Gill