I HAVE been privileged to share my views in this column (or one much like it in Freetime), for just over six years now.

I am surprised to discover, given that topics leap to the pen less easily some weeks than others, that I have never in all that time written about the television programme with which most people associate me.

I will therefore use the opportunity of the publication of a new book about cult television programmes to do just that.

Last week, what we all already knew deep down was confirmed in the Penguin TV Companion. The nation's favourite "cult" television programme is Doctor Who. It rose above Fawlty Towers, Star Trek, The Prisoner and other strong candidates for Top of the Cults.

In his book, Jeff Evans defines the word "cult" as something that "sets fads and fashions, generates merchandise, inspires fan clubs and conventions and pervades the national consciousness to some degree".

Now, I'll acknowledge a certain bias, but would still argue that the adventures of the good Doctor have done all those things, with the possible exception of the fashion bit.

Unless you happen to be at a Doctor Who related event, you're unlikely to see people trailing scarves and toothy grins in midsummer or sporting question marks on their lapels. There were several of each however at Longleat last weekend.

It is amazing that a programme off air since 1989 can still attract hundreds of people to turn up at Longleat to visit the Doctor Who exhibition there and meet some of the actors.

I joined two companions of the wonderful and greatly missed Patrick Troughton, the second incarnation of the Doctor the lovely Anneke Wills and Fraser Hines, whose knobbly knees peeked shyly out beneath a kilt as Jamie McCrimmon long before he graced our screens as Joe Sugden in Emmerdale Farm. Remember when that show had two words in its title and muddy boots?

It was wonderful to see how many young people had discovered the Tardis and its disparate and evolving crew, when many of them were far too young to have seen the show when it was originally broadcast.

More than a decade after the BBC aired its last episode there are still enough followers to justify a comprehensive BBC website and innumerable conventions and signings through out the year. And the Beeb still jealously guards its property.

Many production companies have spent long hours and months putting together applications to make the programme only to have the plans founder, when someone at Shepherds Bush says "if you want it that much, maybe we should hang on to it a bit longer".

So yet another generation is denied the opportunity of having their own special Doctor and hiding behind the sofa when a sink plunger edges into view!

Most people can name a few of the Doctors. I wonder how many of the millions who phoned in to vote will be able to name any of the Big Brother contestants 12 years from now?

If a half-hour programme that was shown intermittently on Saturday evenings can still command a following a decade after its last episode was aired, then it must have been doing something right.

I wonder if my children will ever hide behind the sofa?