I was going to watch the programme - I still might, but it's less likely now. I agree with you that too many programmes are filmed a patronising way. I suppose anyone who's prepared to watch reality TV must expect to be treated like an imbecile, but not programmes that are supposed to be treating a serious subject. You can still do this in an interesting way without demeaning the subject. It's even spread to the news. It's been said before (probably best by Charlie Brooker in How to Report the News http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtGSXMuWMR4) but the inane ways in which presenters attempt to pad out basic news items are deeply irritating. How stupid do they think we are?

As for AA Gill, his brand of perversely controversialist misanthropic superciliousness (and those of Clarkson and too many other contributors) is why I gave up on the Sunday Times. A shame because there were some good articles, but life is too short to let such malignity voluntarily into your life...