Is mindless competition destroying TV entertainment?

“It’s like a modern version of gladiatorial combat in Ancient Rome. Except the guys with the swords didn’t have to smile.”

It began with the Weakest Link, developed in Big Brother, mushroomed in the Apprentice, has grown to dominate dancing on Strictly and forms the exciting climax of each edition of X Factor and the Voice.

Now the harsh business of eliminating wobbly performers on live TV is an art form. Every night viewers can watch hopeful singers, dancers, business whiz kids and cooks being crushed by instant rejection.

It’s like a modern version of gladiatorial combat in Ancient Rome. Except the guys with the swords didn’t have to smile.

Now having conquered the British Bake Off and Sewing Bee the Big Elimination craze has moved on to the tranquil world of the humble allotment. In the BBC’s Big Allotment Challenge nine pairs of “the best allotment owners in Britain” have been given plots in a walled garden, a greenhouse, seeds and six months to grow the shiniest, straightest and least blemished produce.

One gardener uses Llama poo, one sings to her seeds and two bearded chaps have invented the “blokequet” of flowers. But the early money was on Shirley and Victoria; “the quietly confident mother-daughter duo with the best teamwork dynamic.”

What a shock then to discover these gals out on their ears at the end of last week’s show.

“Sad to see you go Shirley and Victoria! You’ve been absolutely marvellous” trilled the programme makers as if their own rules hadn’t produced this hurtful expulsion. Why the crocodile tears? Must insane competitiveness invade every walk of life? Didn’t anyone else feel a bit yuk just watching it?

If it really felt sad to humiliate two lovely women with bendy radishes, there’s a simple solution for Big Allotment producers — just don’t do it!

Real plot owners would cheer to the rafters if the BBC ditched this daft device because out in the real world it’s cooperation not cut-throat competition that makes the allotment world go round.

Last year 15 plots in Glasgow won Sustainable Allotment Site Awards. Each group had to demonstrate they cared for the soil, for one another and for the local community to win.

Would that have been too hard to turn into a winning TV format?

Genuine allotment owners don’t care if their produce has dunts and curves as long as it tastes good and smells fresh. But Big Allotment judges didn’t even sample the winning veg or maybe I missed that posting some critical thoughts on Facebook.

There were hundreds of heartfelt responses like these: “There’s pressure to be best at everything – the best spread at a coffee morning, the best home-made fancy dress costume at a school party, the most stunning outfit at a wedding. It’s taken the simple pleasure out of the laugh we used to have with runny icing dripping off cakes, your child’s fancy dress headgear falling off or hitching a dress up to do ceilidh dancing.”

“From cooking and baking to gardening and crafts, TV is telling us nothing is worth doing unless we are best, unless it is our ‘passion’, unless we’re ‘winners’. If we’re not making artisan cupcakes or pan frying scallops TV would have us believe we’re somehow lacking as people.”

“Gardening is relaxing ,contemplative and reflective. What next — competitive sleeping ?”

“The BBC needs to cultivate its own garden. It can raise stronger and better ideas than this.”

“On principle I no longer watch any TV programme that involves voting, judging or eliminating.”

Do you know something I’m with these folk. And I bet my last delicious, wonky homegrown apple I’m not alone.