The main reaction to Patrick Moore's remarks - that TV is a Gynocracy, far too concerned with makeovers and other fripperies - was the usual Guardianesque hand-wringing. How could he say such a thing?
Me, I don't think he went far enough. My own impression of television is not merely that it is dominated by women but that it is almost exclusively the preserve of women called Jane. This seems unfair.
Now before you get grumpy, I am reliably on record as saying that far too many major industries in the UK (the railways, the telcos, management consulting, mobile telephony) are excessively controlled by men. Typically a rather left-brain man far more preoccupied by systems than with with service.
As further proof of my new man status I even went and bought my own copy of "Inside her Pretty Little Head", a splendid book about marketing to women by Philippa Roberts and, er, Jane Cunningham. (I was going to send my PA out to get it for me, but the trip would have taken her past Russell & Bromley and she would have been gone for sodding hours).
But, new man or no, I still think Sir Patrick's is a fair question to ask. Because I do not subscribe to the current left-wing doctrine that the best way to improve the status of anyone brown, non-Christian or female is to absolve them of all criticism for anything they do.
Controversially I don't think that homophobia is okay if you are a called Tupak, that female subjugation is fine if you are called Mohammed or that genocide is no problem if you're called Saddam. And so I don't think that frivolity and trivialisation are okay if you happen to be called Jane.
Frankly I think the current preoccupation with interior decoration, makeovers, clothes, shoes and fancy goods is now excessive. It is wrecking our high streets - for God's sake, how many shoe shops do we need?. And it is also wasteful (clothes thrown out after a few months, kitchens after a few years). It also trivialises: depressing to note that practically half of the readership of Heat are graduates.
This girly-and-proud-of-it approach contrasts unhealthily with the US where a far greater share of household income goes on Bass Fishing boats, leaf-blowing machines, gas-barbecues, ride-on mowers and other large metal things, and where the average woman could competently handle a U-Haul Truck.
But I don't mind this in itself - we all must find ways of enjoying life. I simply mind that it never receives a word of criticism from anyone. In fact it is universally celebrated. And that, I think, may be in part down to the Janes.
But what do you think? I'll report Sir Patrick's remarks below - let me know your reaction.
Quote begins here....
Veteran astronomer Sir Patrick Moore has blamed women bosses at the BBC for ruining television with a galaxy of lifestyle shows he says should be consigned to the nearest black hole.
"The trouble is that the BBC now is run by women and it shows: soap operas, cooking, quizzes, kitchen-sink plays," he told the Radio Times. "You wouldn't have had that in the golden days."
Sir Patrick, 84, who is celebrating the 50th year of The Sky at Night, one of the world's longest-running series, said television was now "much worse" than when he started out.
Political correctness has wrecked some of his favourite shows, he added.
"I used to watch Doctor Who and Star Trek, but they went PC - making women commanders, that kind of thing. I stopped watching," he said.
Moore once even cast a monocled eye over EastEnders while in hospital, but said he wasn't hooked.
"I suppose it's true to life. But so is diarrhoea - and I don't want to see that on television," he said.
Women newsreaders didn't escape his criticism.
"These jokey women are not for me," he said.
"There was one day (in 2005) when BBC news went on strike. Then we had the headlines read by a man, talking the Queen's English, reading the news impeccably."
Moore, who admitted being "rather hurt" earlier this year when the BBC put out the 650th edition of his program at the unearthly hour of 1.55am, has dreamed up a solution to TV's woes.
"I would like to see two independent wavelengths - one controlled by women, and one for us, controlled by men. I think it may eventually happen."
The BBC shrugged off the criticism, describing Moore as one of the most loved figures on British television.
"He is, as always, forthright in his personal views and that's what we all love about him," a BBC spokesman said.
