A report from economist Charles Kenny – writing for Foreign Policy magazine – has stated that research proves categorically that TV soaps and reality shows “stop people taking drugs” and “could even cut birth rates.”

Not only that, but he reckons that shows which encourage voting, such as the X Factor, may also have a hand in persuading us to vote in general elections.

Kenny, who’s studied the effects of watching telly worldwide, believes the “popularity of soaps and reality TV could even improve the position of women in society.”

He’s based that little nugget of a finding on the fact that when a woman reached the final five of Afghan Star – the Middle East’s equivalent of The X Factor – earlier this year, the director of the show declared it would, “Do more for women’s rights than all the millions of dollars we have spent on public service announcements for women’s rights on TV.”

Kenny also reckons that his research has shown that storylines portraying single mums in a positive light “resonate with viewers” and help them to become better parents themselves.

He also claims, as I mentioned earlier, that the increase in TV ownership worldwide reduces drug use and birth rates by “giving people something else to do in the evening.”

Brilliant!