4 JANUARY 1997, Page 24

Double vision

Sir: I wonder whether your otherwise admirable television critic, James Deling- pole, has been suffering from festivity fatigue (Arts, 14/21 December)? I have been known to succumb to this debilitating condition — whose chief symptom is instant repetition of words just spoken but I have never come across it in print before. Is this, perhaps, an advanced, and rare, symptom of the disease?

Angela Mackworth-Young 11 Ursula Street, London SW11 The editor writes: This was the result of a mechanical failure for which Mr Delingpole was not responsible, and for which I apolo- gise to him and to our readers.