British TV drama is superior

THANKS for the piece about British imports [“Hits From the Brits,” by Lynn Smith, Nov. 7]. As an ex-pat Brit (here 31 years), I have always been proud of our little nation’s influence on American TV.

However, since I doubt you misquoted Ricky Gervais and his comment about British TV drama [“As far as drama goes, we don’t come close”], I have to assume excessive American adulation has caused him brain damage.

British TV drama has always been superior to America’s, and always will be, for two primary reasons: a lack of American network censors, and a wealth of trained and talented actors who are comparatively ego-free and do not require preposterous salaries to do their best work.

IAN HARMER

Gardnerville, Nev.