Is Marks and Spencer quality in general deteriorating? I bought an item of food which had black potatoes in it. I complained by letter and sent the batch number. The reply from a customer advisor thanked me THREE TIMES for letting them know then told me to take their letter to the store where I would be given a refund for the cost of the item. Not exactly great customer service.

c allan, glasgow,

I can't believe myself agreeing with PAXMAN but having just put on a new pair of M&S knickers they are truly not as comfortable as they used to be and I find myself in the street having to be contortionist to get them in the right place!!!
S Browne, London, UK

S Browne, London, UK

M&S underwear for women has also deteriorated in terms of quality over the last couple of years....... now pants only last a few months and don't feel as good - even when brand new! - I used to believe that M7S was really a superior brand for everyday briefs - but not any more! Now, they are run of the mill and I often choose other High Street stores, which I used to consider cheaper and nastier.

Hilary, London UK,

I agree with Paxman's complaints and for some time have refused to buy from M and S anything that relied on elastic-pants and elastcated pyjama bottoms,
The other thiong I have given up is socks-the wool ones are so thin as to be useless for warmth.
We are an aging population and need more support and warmth -not less

D Haynes, nuneaton, UK

I completely agree with Jeremy. Marks and Spencers clothes, especially shirts, underwear and socks, have fallen fallen in quality. I hope Mr Rose addresses the problem soon.

Mrs K Wall, Lichfield, UK

M & S is spiralling downward in quality at a rapid clip in both clothes and food.
I look with longing at many of their Per Una items...the cuts are good, the colors enticing. But the fabrics are horrific, especially the knitwear. Their yarns seem to be made from a combo of tumble dryer lint and Hoovered up pet hair.

Bad news with food, too. I just purchased the new and "improved" concentrated chicken stock and found that the quality of ingredients has plummeted. Watered down, more sugar. And who needs chicory, fennel and garlic in what is supposed to be an all purpose chicken stock? Those ingredients simply don't work with many recipes. If I want chicory or fennel or garlic in a recipe, I'll add them myself.

By the way, do the managers of M&S suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder? Why the constant need to rearrange shelves? Some items have been relocated to different parts of the store more than half a dozen times in the past few months.

No wonder M&S is losing money!!!

Jeannette Isabella, Maidenhead, England

Jeremy Paxman is quite right about the quality of M&S underpants, having shopped in M&S for over 40 years I am sorry to say that the days when one went to M&S for quality have gone - they are no better than any other chain store. A wander through the store reading labels will show that all their stock is manufactured abroad, not in the UK, as used to be the case. I wondered when someone would be brave enough to speak out about the lack of quality in M&S garments - it took Jeremy Paxman, well done!

June Stewart, Moffat, Scotland

I'm afraid I have to agree, I too have been buying M&S underwear for years. I bought what I thought were exactly the same pants that I'd bought last year but the quailty was much more inferior and just didn't feel comfortable and rather 'saggy!'

Mrs Suzanne Redfern, Rotherham,

Paxman is in trouble as he tried to hide his NuLabour membership card in his M&S DRAWERS but we have been watching his discomfort for years and will continue to do so. God knows where Wark hides hers-probably gets designer freebies with a pouch thru NuLabour topshop.

Nick Irvine, North Yorkshire, England

As fellow gent may I suggest to Mr Paxman and others that for once the raising of this subject by him is most unfortunate.

During the more aggressive years of Mr Paxmans life he surely will have noticed certain dynamic changes in his personal 'diamonds' as in his life of action.

May I remind him that it is common knowledge that as a young man his 'diamonds' have been held to his satisfaction and that it is only now apparently that he finds his personal choice of sling to have changed.

No Jeremy you will find that the actual weight of the 'diamonds' has changed as with other bodily features.

Surely even you, Jeremy recall the days when your 'diamonds' were held to your satisfaction, and it is only now as your pension approaches that you have noticed that the carat quality of your 'diamonds' may have reduced over the years.

Hence the 'gusset factor' has been noticed, and the personal grip of well, your 'diamonds' has reduced and perhaps there is more than ample room for them to roam

Jeffrey Downes, Bampton, Devon

Could this have more to do with the inevitable southward migration of Jeremy's plums than with the quality of M&S elastic...? I think we should be told.

Charly, Brussels,

Their "Authentic" range of underware (pants) were originally dreamily comfortable - still are the best there is. However, some corners appear to have been cut and the comfort quotient is diminished.

Please lets have the oringinal specs back.

Heny GB, Brampton, Cumbria

Well it seems like Paxo isn't just stuffing chickens anymore...

J Savage, Cardiff, Wales

Agreed! M&S underwear was good... many years ago!

Nick, Nottingham,

Why is he so concerned? On his wage can't he afford to go elsewhere or is that he's spent all his money on M&S shares? With respect Mr Paxman, you haven't answered my question.

B Redfern, krkso, Slovenia