It does not say much about broadcasters' confidence in new writing when they fall back on reviving something tried and tested. There seems to be a lot of this about at the moment. Hot on the heels of the Survivors "reimagining" it has just been confirmed by the BBC that Martin Clunes is going to recreate the classic lead role made famous in the seventies by Leonard Rossiter, in a remake of The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin. It will now be called simply Perrin and no doubt there will be lots of headlines about Reggie behaving very badly.

Clunes is always good value and quality writer Simon Nye is working on it with Reggie's creator David Nobbs, which sounds good. The only thing that worries me is that we have slightly been here before with The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, the 1996 series that, unlike the forthcoming version gathered together original cast members, but like the forthcoming version, lacked the real star, Leonard Rossiter, due to Rossiter being dead. Which is a bit like Hamlet without Hamlet.

This vogue for cover version comedy doesn't end there. Writers Galton and Simpson are to remake some of their seminal scripts written for the likes of Tony Hancock, this time for Radio 2. This would also be a double dose of deja vu. Paul Merton took on the Hangdog Hancock role in some ITV remakes in the nineties.

Galton and Simpson are reportedly hoping the likes of Ricky Gervais and Peter Kay will appear this time round, which would certainly be interesting (Gervais in the Blood Donor episode definitely appeals), but this is a horrible trend. It doesn't matter how good the old scripts are, television and radio should not be looking back, otherwise where will future classics come from? If they think Nobbs, Galton and Simpson are such great writers why don't they commission them to write something new instead?

I wish everyone involved the best with these revivals, but it does make me wonder where it will end. In 25 years will the BBC be casting some current young whippersnapper like new Dr Who Matt Smith in the role of David Brent in a remake of The Office? The very thought of it makes me want to gouge my own eyes out with a sonic screwdriver.