The style expert on why male TV presenters who ditch their ties are definitely not cool

Television is always described as a visual medium, but you know, a lot of men on TV these days dress very, very badly. Yes, really! The trouble is that many broadcasters – particularly presenters and news correspondents – just don’t realise the importance of appearance.

I only have to flick the remote control a few times before I come across one of these middleaged types who think they’re being youthful and ‘accessible’ by discarding their ties. Whereas what viewers are thinking is, ‘You’re a scruffy mess!’

The fashion for tie- discarding began in the mid-1990s when Italian designers came up with a new way of cutting the shirt collar so that it stood up and looked nice without a tie. But wearing a two-for-one Marks and Spencer white shirt in the same way doesn’t achieve the same result: it looks sad and crumpled and has that ‘dad back from the office’ look. It doesn’t look cool at all.

Take Evan Davis, of BBC2’s Newsnight. I yield to no man in my admiration for him, but the first thing I think when I see him on the show in his suit minus tie, is, ‘Don’t do it, Evan!’ If only he wore a tie, like his predecessor Jeremy Paxman, he’d look so much smarter – and more modern.

Ironically, all too often when presenters do adopt a more formal look they make the mistake of wearing ties of such lurid ghastliness that you’re spellbound and can’t concentrate on what they’re saying. ‘Come closer,’ I think, ‘just so I can see the sheer awfulness of your tie!’ The exception to the rule is Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow, who is famous for his colourful ties and socks. He gets away with them because they’re usually bespoke items and often really quite nice, even if they’re not exactly what I’d wear.

Another thing: a lot of presenters and reporters buy rather cheap-looking, badly-cut shirts and suits. I don’t want to be unsympathetic, but let’s face it, people in telly aren’t badly paid, so surely they can find the money for a half-decent suit, a handful of shirts and some ties fit for purpose.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that ties should be worn at all times on TV – I’m not for a moment suggesting, for instance, that Top Gear’s Matt LeBlanc should turn up to test-drive a sports car in a suit and tie. Similarly, correspondents like Jeremy Bowen reporting from war zones understandably have more pressing concerns.

But in general, a man on TV in a nice modern suit and tie looks good and commands our respect – I’m sure that most young viewers would prefer our male broadcasters and presenters to dress up, rather than down.

Peter York’s Hipster Handbook will be on BBC4 in November.