60 years ago this week: “Commercial TV will bring bad taste”

Commercial television was on the agenda when a panel of the Ilford Conservative Association answered questions from other members at Churchill Hall.

Mr Bagnall, with remarkable prescience, warned: “If it was allowed, there would be exhibitions of bad taste on the air.”

Miss Vale expressed concern about sponsors having too much influence on programming, while Mr Iremonger welcomed the competition it would bring.

Mr Elkin believed the BBC was good at the cultural type of programming, but lacked variety shows which commercial TV could potentially offer.

He also noted the BBC was very short of money.