WHAT a surprise! BBC TV had something worth watching one Saturday evening - August 30.

The live broadcast of Edinburgh's Military Tattoo 2003 was magnificent. Then there was the re-run of Mrs Brown, a highly enjoyable film - even second time around.

Professional critics have claimed: "How Judi Dench failed to win the Best Actress Oscar as Queen Victoria in the film (Mrs Brown) will be a mystery to most viewers."

It is no mystery to me.

I think that Judi was a little too English in her accent as Queen Victoria whose mother, the Duchess of Kent, could not speak a word of English when she came to England from Germany.

The Princess's close relatives were all Germans.

Moreover it is claimed by some biographers that the Royal Family used the German language in their private conversations with one another.

Nonetheless it was a truly wonderful film.

Mrs Ida M Woodrick,

Woodlands Avenue,

Tadcaster.

Updated: 08:44 Saturday, September 13, 2003