Crosbie: 'TV standards are falling'

Annette Crosbie has claimed that standards are falling in the TV industry due to an obsession with ratings.

The veteran actress admitted that she is not totally satisfied with the quality of her new comedy-drama series Hope Springs, produced by BBC Scotland and currently airing on Sunday nights.

Many of the programme's interior scenes were filmed in a disused whisky warehouse, leading to frequent interruptions during poor weather conditions due to its leaky roof and draughty rooms.

Speaking to The Scotsman, Crosbie admitted: "It's not the same animal that I used to know 30 years ago. It's fairly frenzied now. There isn't the preparation time or the realistic time to film, bearing in mind the bad weather.

"I'm not too keen on watching. I feel nothing has been done to the best standard. This isn't a criticism of BBC Scotland, this is the way it is now. Everyone is looking for the ratings figures, and standards go out the window."

Issuing a warning to aspiring actors, she added: "My advice to young people now would be forget it! This business is all about rejection."

Hope Springs continues tomorrow night at 8pm on BBC One.