Phrased out

SIR – Jon Plowman, a former head of BBC comedy, has warned that catchphrases are on the way out (report, September 18), while your leading article declares that “catchphrases, like clichés, are the poetry of the people”.

I always found catchphrases such as Arthur Askey’s “Hello, playmates” and Bruce Forsyth’s “Nice to see you, to see you nice” exceedingly tiresome – so I hope Mr Plowman is correct. Dr Martin Henry

Chelmsford, Essex