This week the state of current TV comedy has been attacked by critics young and old.

Recently Graham Linehan, co-writer of Father Ted, Black Books and The IT Crowd said that most current TV comedy is charmless, depending only on bad language to get cheap laughs. He attacked BBC Three in particular, claiming that shows such as Tittybangbang and Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor (the latter of which returns for a new series today) were trying too hard to be risky, resulting in audiences being polarised. Linehan said: "That is what I am depressed about at the moment - the kind of charmlessness of most comedy on television."

He also said that he thought the modern comedians where trying to out-do Chris Morris, creator of several dark comedy series such as Brass Eye and Jam.

Today, more criticism came from veteran actor Ian Lavender, star of Dad's Army. Lavender, 62, said: "It's rather sad that Dad's Army has to be repeated on TV, although I'm delighted to see it of course. But there's a need for it because they're not making programmes for the whole family to watch. It's amazing that there are children watching this now whose parents were not born when we started. But it's because it's so funny, and all the family can watch it; your sick granny, the kids, everyone. Sadly everything now is done for demographics, whether it's selling a chocolate bar or television. I'm not happy with making or selling anything for a particular group. Why cut people out? It's divisive. Why make things that only your children want?"

Lavender, who played Private Pike in the classic war-based sitcom made the above comments during the filming of a reunion of the Dad's Army cast and crew. The programme will celebrate its 40th anniversary on 31st July. Other than Lavender, there are only five other members of the original cast still alive: Bill Pertwee (ARP Warden Hodges, 81), Clive Dunn (Lance Corporal Jones, 88), Frank Williams (The Vicar, 77), Pamela Cundell (Mrs Fox, 82) and Colin Bean (Private Sponge, 82). A television tribute to the wartime sitcom hosted by Jonathan Ross is shown soon.