Last updated 11:41, Wednesday, 30 April 2008

ACTOR and Old Vic director Kevin Spacey has blasted the BBC for airing talent shows like Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything, which he condemns as blatant adverts for West End shows... quite right too.

“They’re essentially 13-week promotions for musicals – where’s our 13-week programme?” Spacey said.

The Hollywood star makes a hugely important point about the abuse of the BBC’s public service broadcasting ethics – it no longer seems to have any.

No two ways about it, prime-time shows scouting for leads in London stage shows are commercials – nothing more, nothing less – though getting the Beeb to admit it is something even Mr Spacey can’t do.

It would be simplest to suggest perhaps his face doesn’t fit but compare his with the crumpled visage of Andrew Lloyd Webber and in this instance even TV aesthetics wouldn’t wash.