MUMBAI: The creator of BBC's sitcom The Office Ricky Gervais has come down heavily on the state of entertainment on British television.

He says that most shows are lacklustre and tired.

Media reports indicate that Gervais considers US television programming to be of a far greater standard. He says that American writers and programmers show an appetite that is not present in Britain. He praised American writers for being good, funny and ambitious.

He cites shows like 24, CSI as being examples of creativity. Britain, he laments, does not have comparable shows. The reason he says for this is the fact that American television does not tolerate hack writers. If they are no good they are out of the picture.