Leading article: Credits where credit is due

Tuesday 02 December 2008 01:00 GMT
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This is a scandal. As if British society is not already under enough pressure from one "credit crunch", we are now facing another. To find it, don't reach for your bank statement, however, switch on your television, where it is now virtually impossible to identify who is responsible for making the programmes. Credits are shrunk to a fraction of their natural size in order to give space to advertising, or run past the top of our screens as an illegible lightening-fast blur.

Take Sunday's broadcast of Wallander – a lavish adaptation of a detective novel by Henning Mankell. The high-rolling bosses, Kenneth Branagh included, got lengthy space in the opening credits. As for the junior cast and crew members, audiences were at a loss. In fact, more than 100 names flashed by in 14 seconds. at the end of the programme, making it impossible for all but the most square-eyed to read them.

Producers must respect the contribution of juniors and let the credits roll. Slowly.

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