Stop this awful noise that ruins TV shows

Having just watched the final episode of four programmes, Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World, excellent programmes they were, except for the extensive use of background noise – I hesitate to use the word music.

The use of this noise seems hellbent on drowning out the spoken word. In one episode, Billy had arrived at the Arctic Circle and viewed the vast expanse before him.

He remarked that "the silence here is unbelievable, what bliss", but not for us, the viewer. The silence was broken by some unknown instrument making usual hideous noises.

On the same evening, Kilimanjaro: The Big Red Nose Climb', was also ruined. So many such programmes are ruined by such noise.

Also, why have the news headlines on all channels completed drowned out by noises. It does not happen with the news headlines on the radio.

I get the impression that most of the "music" used has been produced by a group of pre-school children in a kindergarten let loose with a heap of musical instruments, or should it be unmusical.

For the many people like myself who have to use hearing aids, the use of these screeches, etc, makes viewing very uncomfortable, sometimes impossible.

Letters to the Press have been continuing for several years, but never a reply from the media. Perhaps those concerned can't read or won't read.

When I see the credits roll at the end of some programmes, I think that maybe some heads in the television media should roll!

May I conclude with an old saying, truer today than ever: "The trouble with common sense is it's not very common."

Sid Perry Gillingham Dorset