THREE CHEERS FOR JEREMY!

TV REVIEW> On the single currency "Is the present policy the right one?" Michael Portillo replied "Oh, Jeremy, do stop this nonsense." Jeremy Paxman undoubtedly has an amazing ability to ask the right questions - and get answers. After the exit poll came in, he asked Michael Portillo "Will you miss the ministerial limo?", and later "Mr. Portillo, are you ready to drink hemlock yet?". Perhaps the best line of the night was "Cecil Parkinson - you're the chairman of a fertiliser company. How deep's the mess you're in now?"

Jeremy Paxman's addition to the BBC team was a welcome one, and one which livened up an already lively evening. Peter Snow was also on top form with his usual dazzling array of graphics in addition to the trusty old swingometer, giving accurate analysis of the results. David Dimbelby was competent, although his consistent and unnecessary talking over results was irritating.

The BBC spent £2.5m on the Election programme, and it was money well spent. "I cannot imagine any other broadcasting organisation in the world being able to produce a programme like that," one viewer told me. The BBC's coverage was professional, fast-moving and accurate. ITN's virtual reality commons chamber didn't seem worth tuning in for, and neither they nor Sky News could compete with the BBC's vast resources, reputation or professionalism. I enjoyed eight hours of real-life drama unfold live on Thursday night, and in the broadcasting war, the BBC inevitably got my vote.