IF YOU don’t like watching sport on television then you are somewhat scuppered over the next few weeks.

Of course, there are lots of other channels to choose from but having sat on my sofa every night scanning the schedules for something, anything, else worth watching since the Euros began, I have deduced none of them are bothering to compete.

Surely it would be worth throwing in a few romantic comedy films or re-runs of popular comedies on the channels not showing football or tennis wall-to-wall?

Since this is clearly not happening, I have taken an “if you can’t beat them, join them” attitude and with a fairly pitiful football knowledge, I have still been watching a lot of the group games.

There is something about a major sports competition that draws me in.

I particularly like it when there is an upset – or the pundits have a little disagreement about something.

And they have really pushed the boat out this year with their starry cast of legends of the game – although someone should tell them all to lighten up a bit.

I know football is “more important than life and death” as Bill Shankly once famously said, but there is a serious lack of smiling going on among the likes of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Rio Ferdinand on the BBC.

Only host Gary Lineker looks vaguely happy to be there. I assume it’s all the free crisps he know he will be getting backstage.

ITV’s crew are a bit jollier but it looks like they have been hit hard by these times of austerity.

Their budget must be a bit smaller as in many of their broadcasts they have had to do away with the studio and carry their table and chairs outside for a chat instead.  It is a good job the tournament is in France and the weather has been slightly kinder there than here.