I'VE never bought into the Ant and Dec hysteria. I suppose I just don't get it.

But when you've been brought up on the genius of Eric Morecambe, the multi-talented Bruce Forsyth, the hilarious comedy of Ken Dodd and Tommy Cooper, and the wonderful characterisations of Ronnie Barker in Porridge and Open All Hours, after such a cavalcade of brilliant performers, it's difficult to accept second or third-rate entertainment.

When you look around and see such great performers as Paul Merton, Bill Bailey, Joe Brand, Peter Kay, Michael McIntyre, Rob Brydon, Graham Norton, to mention just a few, all of them funny, clever, witty, intelligent and inventive individuals, are we really supposed to believe that Ant and Dec are the best that television entertainment can offer?

I don't care how many awards they have, you will never convince me that they have earned a place in the high echelons of showbusiness greats.

I would go as far as to say that if you were to list all the great television stars of the last 60 years I doubt that Ant and Dec would come in the top 200.

From what I can see, Saturday Night Takeaway is just a variation of what Noel Edmonds was doing 20 or more years ago in The Late Late Breakfast Show and Noel's House Party, the only difference being that the Noel Edmonds shows got twice as many viewers as Saturday Night Takeaway.

When I watch Britain's Got Talent all I see is two guys running around back stage like a couple of five-year-olds desperate for attention.

As popular as Ant and Dec may be, in my opinion they are just another couple of television presenters with a very limited talent.

PETER HUNT

Pinehurst Road, West Moors