ANY programme which sets out to make us more responsible for our actions or become more socially aware has to be applauded.

But as good as the intentions behind ITV's week-long eco-fest Extinct undoubtedly are, I just haven't felt comfortable sitting there watching it.

Every night various 'celebrities' appear in exotic locations fighting the corner of one endangered species or another.

Last night we had former Blackburn Rovers footballer Graeme Le Saux arguing the case for Rwanda's gorillas and actress Miranda Richardson putting the case for the Asian elephant.

No matter how they try to disguise it, it does look as though the personalities have got a nice exotic trip out of it.

And surely it would have been a more convincing argument to just let wildlife experts put their case?

Graeme Le Saux may be mightily intelligent for a footballer but he's still no David Attenborough.

I also had the suspicion that I was being slightly preached to.

Just present the facts and leave it there thanks.

I can make my own mind up without the emotional blackmail.