Is TV the biggest lie producing machine in history? Of course it is. That's what it's there for. TV never reflected reality by virtue of the fact that is was all a bit too real. We can all recall a great TV fib... spaghetti trees, fake haunted houses with a mock spooked Sarah Green... but now, things have changed. Once, TV was unabashed about the lies it told. We could trust that any lies were for our benefit and required a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. TV has taken away the trust and taken a sinister turn.

It seems that, at the moment, you can't move for TV scandals. Some are more worrying than others. Some sneaky editing has left The Queen looking like a pilchard, more editing suite fun left us under the impression that Gordon Ramsay is quite the fisherman.These to me are old fashioned lies. Editing something quite dull into something slightly less dull. However, apart from the creative edit, TV shows have been lying to us whilst dipping a hand into our pockets.

Telling a lie to be creative is one thing. Telling us lies to rob us blind is quite another. In recent months, we've been collectively robbed by Richard and Judy's You Say We Pay quiz, Brainteaser, various late night call'n'quiz shows and most shamefully, Blue Peter. Some of you may scoff. You really should care. Why? Well, the facts speak for themselves. Panorama have claimed that GMTV swindled up to £10m from its viewers. C4's Richard and Judy show is alleged by Icstis to have robbed up to £2.5m from its viewers. Then there's Five, fined £300,000 for 16 offences on Brainteaser and its spin-off show, including members of the production team pretending to be winners.

It's time that TV cleaned up its act. It seems that, in the last year, TV has gone to new lows, seemingly starting with the Celebrity Big Brother race row involving Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty. Authorities are finally taking broadcasters to the cleaners. Although, that in itself poses a problem. When the BBC found itself on the end of a £50,000 fine, who foots the bill? They get their money from tax payers don't they? Are we going to end up paying for their underhandedness?

TV needs to gain our trust again. [Mof Gimmers]