By Alice Wyllie Reality TV is synonymous with the dumbing down of broadcasting, but a new generation of more 'high-brow' programmes is reviving the genre - and teaching us something in the process. IN THE world of television, "reality" has become a dirty word.

MUSICAL reality show Maestro has sparked a Beethoven sales boom. Eight celebrities, including Jane Asher and David Soul, trained as orchestra conductors in the BBC2 show. Comedian Sue Perkins beat musician Goldie in the final, during which they conducted part of Beethoven's Fifth.

By Tim Lewis THE controversial judge on the BBC reality show Maestro has revealed he does not want to become the next Simon Cowell. Millions of viewers have Watched tough-talking Dominic Seldis deliver his often harsh verdicts on the celebrity contestants learning to become conductors.

By SOPHIE MORRIS MY WEEK IN MEDIA Last week I read... I have been in Lithuania, at the Vilnius Book Fair, this week and picked up a copy of The Vilnius Review, a brilliant poetry magazine. I also read a very good piece on The Times' website about the Georgian State Ballet.

How hard can it be to conduct an orchestra? Don't you just have to wave a little stick around and frown? And how could eight celebrities attempting to direct an ensemble make remotely interesting viewing for one night, let alone the next six weeks? Having watched the first episode of Maestro - the latest celeb challenge reality show - some of the answers were surprising.