Credit where it's due

Former BBC 1 Controller Lorraine Heggessey says: "Nobody reads them but actors and their mothers". Comedian David Mitchell (left) disagrees and says: "They are there out of respect for people who made the programme and viewers quite like them."

What are they talking about? TV credits of course.

Some people hate them: "What is a 'Best Boy' anyway and why do I need to know who it was?" Some people love them: "I thought that guy playing that guy was the same guy that played that guy in that programme last year, but with a different accent!"

But for performers they are crucial. They associate you with the work you have helped to create and they advertise your skills to potential employers.

The broadcasters think they have to tell viewers what is on next immediately the last word in the programme they are watching has been said or you will turn over to another channel. Are they right?

Over 10,000 members and viewers have completed Equity's two-minute survey letting us know what they think. The survey is now closed and we will be sending the findings to the top brass in broadcasting so that they really know what ordinary viewers want. You can download a copy of  the report from this website.

TV credits have also been raised in Parliament. Kelvin Hopkins MP has put down an Early Day Motion which opposes the broadcasters' view that television credits are unimportant and supportsthe work of Equity in calling for the retention of television credits at the end of programmes.Thirty-seven MPs have signed the motion so far and Equity is encouraging members to lobby their MPs to sign the EDM and back Equity's campaign. You can read the EDM here.

Read Christine Payne's article on the Spotlight news blog: http://www.spotlight.com/news/archive/2011/11/22/credit-where-itrsquos-due-the-equity-campaign-on-tv-credits.aspx

Watch David Mitchell on TV credits: http://tinyurl.com/6af7gkd

Read about teh camaign in The Stage, BBC News on-line and The Independent.