Penelope Keith's theory

Penelope Keith says the death of sitcoms with universal appeal has contributed to the breakdown of families – and even the summer riots.

The 71-year-old Good Life star complained that even the word ‘sitcom’ had become ‘pejorative’ as TV executives sought niche programmes to appear to target demographics.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Keith said: ‘Life today is terribly compartmentalised. Children and adults eat in separate rooms or watch television in separate rooms. I'm sure that is a reason why young people occasionally bash up old people - because the ages don’t mix any more.

‘You look at those young men out rioting in the summer and you think that if someone were at home saying, “Don’t you dare!” they’d have more of a chance.

And she added that broadcasters exacerbate the problem by failing to make programmes for the whole family.

‘I think it is very sad that ‘sitcom’ has become a pejorative term. Because all the best comedies are about funny situations.

‘And of course today’s “mee-ja” is so narrowly targeted at one particular socio-economic group or at a particular age group, which I find invidious. I really do.

‘When I did The Good Life and Manor Born, producers didn’t have to fill in forms saying which audience they were targeting. It was commissioned just because it was good.’

Keith was being interviewed to promote To The Manor Reborn, a BBC One documentary about the restoration of a  500-year-old country property.

Published: 15 Nov 2011