I fully endorse the comments made by Vince Powell in "It's a matter of laughter" (January 14).

When I look at the scheduled programmes some evenings, I can't wait to switch to Sky or UK Gold to look at the repeats of some of the fantastic comedy shows such as Dad's Army or Open All Hours - such evergreens of entertainment.

We may never again see the equal of Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell, Ronnie Barker and many others but unless the writers of these shows are given the chance to create storylines such as these once again, no newcomer will have the opportunity to fill the shoes of the icons of entertainment we came to enjoy watching in the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.

So come on, BBC and ITV executives, let's see more British-born humour.

And don't forget the older generation watches more TV than the youngsters.

-D V Johnson, Queen Victoria Avenue, Hove