A dose of nostalgia

To mark the 60th anniversary of Hancock’s Half Hour, the BBC has commissioned a series of remakes of classic sitcoms, from Steptoe & Son and Porridge to Goodnight Sweetheart. Some will find themselves agreeing with Patricia Routledge, who on hearing that the BBC was making a prequel of Keeping Up Appearances, told this newspaper: “They must be desperate. Remind me to switch off, please.” Initial reviews have been decidedly mixed. Viewers should be not be too cynical. There are many pleasures to be had in returning to familiar settings and characters, and if the shows are indeed duds, at least one habitual bane of the genre will be avoided. What is worse, after all: a bad remake of a classic show, or a Saturday afternoon repeat of a bad remake?