Duncan dragon’s lost his puff

Last updated 09:20, Saturday, 05 July 2008

DUNCAN Bannatyne has kicked his smoking habit. He’s a former 20-a-day man, which makes him the worst kind of preacher – a convert.

He has even told his children they’ll be cut out of his will if they take up cigarettes. But since he’s already told them they’ll be spared the pressures of inheriting his fortune and they should make their own, that barely matters anyway. Who’d blame them for blowing smoke in his face?

Duncan Bannatyne Takes On Big Tobacco – BBC2 Tuesday) showcased his customary bad tempered determination to good effect. Gruff and focused to seek out the bad guys, Bannatyne was on a mission to root out the invisible men in suits who exploit the African market for expansion of cigarette sales.

He was furious to find young children well and truly hooked on fags and was pretty damned sure he was the man to bring giant tobacco corporations to book for their cold-hearted marketing crimes.

Sadly, it was obvious from the start he’d be able to do no such thing... but hey, at least he had a go.

When TV celebrities promise to save the world from evil, famine, war, global warming and social injustice it’s best that we remember – it’s not the winning but the taking part for ratings that matters most.