BECAUSE of the stupid, inane laughter and general behaviour of the audience at the BBC's National Lottery Draw, I seldom watch the draw being made.

On Saturday Bob Monkhouse, well dressed, gulping air, as usual, had to have a go at a member of the Royal Family.

It was the turn of the Princess of Wales who he said had stated that she should like to leave the country.

He remarked that the amount of time she spent on holiday abroad, maybe she has left, or words to that effect.

The cameras turned to show the audience screaming, shouting and clapping in delight to this so-called wit.

I did not find what he had said a bit funny, in fact a shudder went along my spine and I thought: "Dear me, Robert, bang goes your knighthood."

When later the news came of the accident and later the death of the Princess of Wales, I just wonder what the reaction of Bob Monkhouse was, and all those wonderful people in the audience who thought it so great to laugh at and ridicule her. Nice people.

R P NEWSOME (Mr), Brothers Street, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.