Unreality television

In an absent-minded moment I switched on the telly to see how, and indeed if, the world outside the village still wagged, only to receive two nasty jolts in quick succession. First, it was badgers and a report accompanied by horrifying film of badger-baiting and a commentary that implied quite clearly that ‘bloodsportsmen’ were behind the whole thing and that it was due only to the criminal resistance of the hunting fraternity that badger digging had not been stopped years ago. The illegality of the practice received but passing mention.

My blood pressure had barely subsided below danger level when there we were again in a news item about otters. The