I WRITE regarding the nuisance of television background music.

The continual addition of exceptionally loud soundtracks to documentaries and plays has been well commented on, yet the TV pundits still insist on inflicting it on us.

Recently they have added a new torment. We now have the ubiquitous demented pianist who invades many programmes. Unable to play a tune, they repeat the same few notes with monotonous regularity.

The programmes Who do you think you are?, Missing Persons, and, more recently, a very interesting documentary on Betty Driver was spoilt by this intrusion.

Nothing seems to stop this plague except the mute button – and then you lose the plot.

PETER J COLLINS, Hinksey Hill, Oxford