Arts meet science

SIR – It is marvellous to hear that Tim Pigott-smith has been nominated posthumously for a Bafta award (report, April 5). At the time of his death last year, he was mainly remembered for his leading role in the ITV series The Jewel in the Crown.

Arguably, however, he gave an even greater performance as Francis Crick in Life Story, the BBC Horizon dramatisation of the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953. Generally considered to be one of the greatest scientific docudramas ever made, and co-starring Jeff Goldblum and Juliet Stevenson, it has not been shown on British television since 1988. Nor is it widely available on DVD.

It would be a wonderful tribute to this fine actor if the BBC could screen it again to mark its 30th anniversary. Alan Grainger

York