Entertaining television

<p>Entertaining television challenges the idea that the BBC in the 1950s was elitist and 'staid' upholding Reithian values in a paternalistic even patronising way. By focusing on a number of (often controversial) programme case studies - such as the soap opera the quiz/game show the 'problem' show and programmes dealing with celebrity culture - Su Holmes demonstrates how BBC television surprisingly explored popular interests and desires. She also uncovers a number of remarkable connections with programmes and topics at the forefront of television today ranging from talk shows 'Reality TV' even to our contemporary obsession with celebrity.<br><br>The book is iconclastic percipient and grounded in archival research and will be of use to anyone studying television history.</p>