Television is all-pervasive in our society. The vast majority of households have one, often several, sets. Broadcasts run through the day and night, channels are multiplying - cable, terrestrial, satellite… it's all very different from the early days of the BBC. In those days (until just after the Second World War), of course, the BBC was solely dedicated to radio.

The first years of the BBC were dominated by the figure of John Reith. The fifth son of a Church of Scotland minister, Reith was a staunch Christian who was determined that the new medium should be used for the betterment of its listeners. Frivolous entertainment was not encouraged! Programming was determined not by what people 'wanted' so much as what they 'needed'.

Such attitudes are not popular today, Viewer ratings are a major factor in deciding the value of a programme. Maybe this is good, but sometimes even the most famous soap operas, challenge programmes and quiz shows can wear a bit thin. It's not all like that, of course. There are still some programmes that open the viewer's eyes to the world around, just as John Reith wanted. And you can still choose what - and what not - to watch this Christmas.