Repeat, repeat, repeat

SUMMER is here, which means endless repeats. We should be used to it by now, but it's still annoying for those of us who aren't on holiday or trying to have barbecues in the rain.

Some repeats are welcome chances to see programmes again. But one recent repeat of an episode of Location, Location, Location was particularly ill-advised. Schedules should be ashamed of the bad timing of this episode in the current economic climate.

Channel 4 has a nasty habit of cheating viewers with its property programmes. It announces "brand new" series of shows like Location, Property Ladder, Grand Designs and Relocation, Relocation, throws us half a dozen new episodes if we're lucky, then completes the series with re-runs.

In the case of this series of Location etc, the new episodes were followed by three "revisiting" shows, which are basically repeats with five minutes of catch-up material on the end. Though even that was hardly new, with footage from up to a year ago showing Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp returning to old haunts .

Then, this week, came the worst repeat of all. No revisiting, just a straight forward re-run, though tacked on the end of this "new" series as if it was a current episode.

Which was laughable, as it was evident from the start that this was horribly out of date.

As they house-hunted for two couples in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Phil and Kirstie kept talking about the huge increases in house prices and how properties were being snapped up in the buoyant market. The buyers would have to move quickly, and put in offers over the asking price, if they wanted to get their hands on these homes.

These words must have sounded hollow and insulting to those trying to sell their house now, who have probably had it on the market for months and had to drastically reduce the price. And it's hardly helpful to people struggling to get a mortgage.

It's just embarrassing for Channel 4 for show this on primetime TV. It makes them look really stupid and deprives viewers of a decent programme.