I've really enjoyed Dan Cruickshank's Around the World in 80 Treasures on BBC2 over the past few weeks. As a traveller, his trademark panama hat make him appear rather Ustinov-esque, but his mannerisms are more British: more George Smiley than Hercule Poirot (though that isn't right, either: he's far too energetic, and probably too young, to be George Smiley).

In contrast, Dr Simon Thurley's Building Britain last Saturday was interesting but not compelling. As an architectural history, it was skin deep, and had moments of reactionaryism. But it was interesting to hear the discussion about Church evolution and re-use, where they were torn down and rebuilt in the Reformation on the continent, and alarming to hear that the BBC intended to play The Archers back-to-back in the event of a nuclear strike. As Ruth Archer would say, "Ooh Nooo!"

And we've seen the last of Bremner, Bird and Fortune for a while too. All is not lost TV-wise, of course. There's still Doctor Who, and a new series of everyone's favourite property porn, Grand Designs. I wonder whether a 900-year-old Type 40 time machine, one rather careless owner, is cheaper than a cardboard box in the south-east these days?

Tags: tv