[Jan Brock]

I see Benedict Nightingale (70) is retiring as theatre critic of the Times after 50 years as a reviewer. The Times editor says he is the leading theatre critic of his generation - which is patent nonsense.

He is replaced by Libby Purves (59) who appears to have no background in theatre at all - just handed the job to give her a few nice nights out in London I suppose.

It is unfortunate that they could not have chosen someone a bit (or a lot) younger who has at least demonstrated some sort of interest or knowledge of theatre.

[Alexandra]

Surprising choice, isn't it? I've never seen Libby Purves at the theatre until the other night at Wilton's, by which time she presumably knew she had the job. Doesn't mean she doesn't go of course, but if she goes a lot I'd have expected to see her by now. Oh well, the proof of the pudding and all that....how old is Billington? He'd better bloody well not retire any time soon.

[Job]

Well, I'm happy to prejudge: this is as dispiriting an appointment as I can possibly imagine. The Critics' Circle must be quaking in their boots to see their role diminished in this way; there's enough noise already from professional critics (Mark Shenton and others) about the rise of the web-based amateur, and Libby-the-Crit won't do much to redress their fear that the angel of death is wafting over their heads. There's the smack of the death knell about this.

Libby Purves, I ask you... Whatever next? Laurence Llewellyn Bowen judging an opera show presented by Alan Titchmarsh?

[Jan Brock]

Billington is 71 it seems.

Film reviewing went this way some time ago - just a role for some under-employed hack writer with no particular knowledge of film churning out reams of tepidly amusing copy about themselves with a few side references to the film they saw. Restaurant reviewer is another one that seems to be handed out in lieu of a cash bonus.

I see La Purves is a keen yachtswoman who writes a monthly column in a yachting magazine and lives in Suffolk, so I imagine she'll only be available for theatre reviewing now and again.

One final thing (takes deep breath) if she hadn't been a woman she wouldn't have got the job. (Apart from gender she fulfills the exact theatre-critic stereotype Hytner was complaining about)

[Alexandra]

71? Oh no, Billers, don't even think about it. I won't know what to see if you go (I exaggerate, but our tastes do remarkably coincide).

I'll read a oouple of her reviews before I decide (but only a couple).

[Lynette]

Blimey, it's depressing. So many young people out there who write well, crying out for a try out. Why didn't they put it out to tender as it were and have a few people try out for three months a time say and then let readers choose...a newspaper X factor. Then we would have read the reviews.

[Job]

Lloyd Evans of the Spectator is a really interesting critic. I don't know him personally and I don't always agree with him, but he's the real deal: an entertaining, literate polymath (he writes about far more than just theatre) who always makes sense. Not an expert or an insider, but a lively enthusiast who'd be ideal on one of the nationals.

But it's spilt milk now.

[Jan Brock]

Lloyd Evans of the Spectator is a really interesting critic. I don't know him personally and I don't always agree with him, but he's the real deal: an entertaining, literate polymath (he writes about far more than just theatre) who always makes sense. Not an expert or an insider, but a lively enthusiast who'd be ideal on one of the nationals.

.... but who has blown whatever credibility he may have had by writing pathetic chattering-classes sex farces for the London fringe. Here's a review of one of his efforts by my favourite critic:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/revi...r-than-farce.do

After this I don't know how Evans has the gall to review other playwright's work.