I was a big fan of Swap Shop back in the 1970's with Noel Edmonds, John Craven, etc. An intelligent and fun show for kids, especially when compared to the awfully tacky Tiswas. I also used to like Basil Brush, so I tuned to the new Swap Shop, Saturday mornings on BBC, just to see how they do things. I know I'm a lot older now, but age doesn't determine what's good or bad. Swap Shop is now tacky and infantile; just another kids show, despite having the talented Barny Harwood on board. Too many silly costumes, and although Basil's awful jokes are a national institution, they don't fit here at all. The original show raised us up a few levels and credited us with some intelligence. This new one keeps kids at a low level.

I know it's not aimed at me, and a lot of kids might love it, but it's now just like lots of other kids shows. They would have been better advised to create a new show rather than trying to re-create an old classic with backroom people who obviously lack the vision and imagination of their predecessors.

Basil's looking well though, isn't he? He's put on a pound or two but apart from that he hasn't changed a bit since he was on TV in the 1970's!