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BBC boss attacks ITV over standards

David Lister,Culture Editor
Thursday 25 November 1999 00:00 GMT
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The war of words between BBC1 and ITV continued yesterday as Peter Salmon, the BBC1 controller, accused his rival of "abandoning journalism" and broadcasting ever more soaps and game shows.

The war of words between BBC1 and ITV continued yesterday as Peter Salmon, the BBC1 controller, accused his rival of "abandoning journalism" and broadcasting ever more soaps and game shows.

"The BBC1 schedule offers something different," he said as he launched the public broadcaster's line-up. "This winter's schedule underlines our determination to offer the widest, richest range of programmes - something worthwhile for everyone."

At the heart of the schedule is live coverage of Manchester United's progress in the world club championships in Brazil - which they controversially entered instead of taking up their place in the FA Cup.

One of its most novel experiments involves sending 30 volunteers to a remote island for a year to start their own tiny society. Castaway 2000 will track their efforts to build a social framework, cultivate land, keep animals and survive the harsh winter on the Scottish island.

The other striking innovation is the Child Of Our Time series from Professor Robert Winston. It will track a group of millennial babies for two decades.

Comedy duo Reeves and Mortimer appear in an updated version of the classic Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)and Diana Rigg becomes an investigator with the title role in The Mrs Bradley Mysteries.

Dramas include Monarch Of The Glen starring Richard Briers and Susan Hampshire based on the Highland novels of Sir Compton Mackenzie.

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