JUDGING by the vitriol in Andrew Parkes' condemnation of the BBC (Who Gives A Beeb?, News Shopper, May 25), he has not only suffered at the hands of an overbearing BBC journalist but also been refused a job by them.

Society's whingers always moan at the licence fee. The over 75s already get free licences. For the rest, is 34p a day really too much for such quality programming?

Try going without the BBC for a week and see whether the resulting £2.38 in your pocket makes up for an unremitting diet of quiz shows, reality TV, imported programming and advertising aimed at the lucrative 18-34 market on the other channels.

Andrew Parkes maintains they take our licence fee' and spend it on crazy programming'.

The 4.7p per viewing/listening hour which the BBC costs the average household, compared to the 38.5p for a Sky family pack, is money well spent.

The BBC's quality speaks for itself. We have little which the rest of the world envies. The BBC is one world-class winner.

SARAH BEACOCK

Shearwood Crescent

Crayford