Reality television being flogged to death, Jowell warns

The Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, warned the television industry yesterday that the genre of reality television was being "flogged to death" and said production of quality drama, comedy and current affairs was under threat.

Ms Jowell admitted she had found the Channel 4 programme Big Brother "compelling" but added that such programmes were too widespread. She said the public preferred to watch "quality programmes with high production values" and that audience figures would support her view.

Ms Jowell's comments followed an earlier interview in which she said she hoped for a "viewers' revolt" if many more reality shows were made.

She told The Independent that the proliferation of "gardening, cookery [and] makeover programmes" also gave her cause for concern. "All of them have their place but they should not crowd out of the schedules drama, comedy film or current affairs," she said.

Ms Jowell said her concern was to ensure that public service broadcasters provided viewers with a "varied diet", adding that her views on reality television were best summed up by the words of the Jane Austen character Mr Bennett, from Pride and Prejudice, who, on hearing the dreadful piano playing of his daughter, said: "I thank you. You have delighted us enough."

Ms Jowell, who said earlier she had not seen the hit jungle reality show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, admitted: "I and my family watched the last Big Brother avidly." But, she added: "You can have too much of a good thing ... My point is that reality television is not a moral ill, but it's a genre that should not be flogged to death".

Granada Television, makers of I'm a Celebrity, said the programme's audience of nine million proved "the British public still love reality television".

The Culture Secretary's comments drew a mixed response from industry commentators. Some welcomed her support for high-quality programming but others felt she was stepping beyond her remit.

David Wood, features editor of Broadcast magazine, said: "It smacks a bit of a paternalist view of the media –'I know what's good for people'. If people want to watch these shows, why shouldn't they?"

Stuart Prebble, the former chief executive of ITV and an independent producer, said the television industry was highly sensitive to audiences. "If something starts to go off the boil they realise it very quickly," he said.

Ms Jowell received some support from Lord Lipsey, chairman of the Social Market Foundation think-tank, who said he backed her objective of improving the quality of programmes. He said: "Of course choice matters, but so does diversity and quality." But the shadow Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, accused his opposite number of overstepping the mark. "It's patronising and intellectually snobbish," he said.

WHAT THE INDUSTRY SAYS

Stuart Prebble, former chief executive of ITV: "She's got exactly the same right to comment on what's on television as everyone else. The key thing to understand is that broadcasters are acutely sensitive to audience reactions. That's what they do hour by hour, week by week."

Lord Lipsey, chairman of the Social Market Foundation: "She's right that you can have too much of a good thing. Reality programmes are like chocolate – they're delicious, but eating too much makes you sick."

John Whittingdale, shadow Culture Secretary: "I think it's to some extent patronising and intellectually snobbish. I watch I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!. I think it's quite fun and enjoyable. It also has the merit that it's one of the very few programmes you can sit down with the family to watch."