WHETHER you like the programmes or not, I thought the trio of live television programmes last weekend on BBC and ITV – Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor Final and BBC Sports Personality of the Year – were outstanding with incredible production values making magic TV.

Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1’s flagship light entertainment series has been for me the best yet; great family entertainment, technical perfection together with superb dazzling camerawork.

In fact we awarded the steadicam cameraman who does the heart-stopping ballet camera movements around the dancers, Dominic Jackson, our highest GTC award this year for his specialist contribution to this sand other major British television productions.

By co-incidence, 20 odd years ago at a Christmas gathering, I had a conversation at a friend’s house in Nether Poppleton with a young woman who was just starting out in her television career.

If you look at the credits at the end of the big Strictly final this weekend you will see her name – Louise Rainbow – and she is in charge of the whole series as executive producer. No doubt her mother Connie, who still lives in the village, will be very proud.

Keith Massey Chairman, Guild of Television Cameramen Bishopthorpe, York.