What's next? Gardening Idol?

Vic Reeves

Reeves and his comedy partner Bob Mortimer presented their own Saturday night show, Families at War, in 1999.

But it was to become one of BBC One's biggest flops, scraping just over three million when it first aired before eventually being dropped.

But it has not stopped him hitting out at the fare being offered to viewers today.

Speaking about the Generation Game he said "there has to be something more inventive than that".

The 42-year-old, who acted in the remake of Randall and Hopkirk, is also vocal about the state of British comedy.

Miserable

"I was at the Comedy Awards last month and realised they were scrapping the barrel," he said.

"Cold Feet [which won the People's Choice award] is good, but not comedy. It's very miserable."

And talent searches and gardening programmes are also in Reeves' firing line.

"Nowadays kids just want to be famous, which is the wrong reason.

"It's like that show Pop Idol. They all sound as if they should be on a cruise ship or in a karaoke bar.

"What's next? Gardening Idol? Gardening and makeover programmes are easy, cheap TV, and viewers will soon be bored with them."

Shooting Stars was first launched in 1993 and won a Bafta for best light entertainment programme in 1997. A new series starts on BBC Choice at 2130 GMT on Wednesday.