Credit Where Credit's Due, Says TV Star Branagh

Shakespearean actor, Kenneth Branagh, has been complaining about the BBC not giving appropriate time for TV programme credits.

Currently starring as a Swedish detective in the much-praised BBC1 drama Wallander, the Belfast-born thespian has criticised the corporation for "zooming through" cast and crew credits.

"The BBC thinks it must move on very fast to the next programme or promo or it will lose viewers," Branagh said. "It's insulting."

He was commenting after his own hit series, Wallander - watched by more than six million viewers - had some 99 names flashing past in just 14 seconds during the closing credits.

He was commenting after Equity, the actors' union, also raised the issue with Mark Thompson, the BBC Director-General.

However, the BBC, like all the other stations, is concerned about 'losing viewers' as they fear a lapse of attention will have them tuning into other channels as soon as the main feature ends, so they must move on rapidly to regain audience attention.

(BMcC)