Britain’s Got Talent judge David Hasselhoff yesterday stunned Oxford University toffs by declaring “reality TV has ruined television”.
The Hoff, 58, delivered his damning verdict during a speech at The Oxford Union at 4pm.
Despite being a reality TV judge himself, he said: ”Reality television has ruined television. It makes people do things that they wouldn’t normally do in real life.
“Hopefully television will come back.”
Wearing a tailored shiny grey pinstripe three piece suit and his trademark tan, Hasselhoff spoke for about an hour to the crowd of 600 students.
But the Knight Rider star also revealed his love for Britain’s Got Talent.
He said: ”Variety shows and game shows and the Simon Cowell role is going to be around for a while.
”Britain is crazy. On Britain’s Got Talent crazy people and talented people have a forum to get up and do what they want.
”The amazing talent is in the under 12s.
”We found a dancer that dances like Billy Elliot that is autistic and a girl who is 12 who sings like Whitney Houston.”
The crowd of students went wild for The Hoff, who spent 10 minutes signing pictures and taking photographs after his speech.
He spoke of his low points, including the leaked video of him drunkenly eating a burger, but maintained he was staying sober for his daughters.
He said: ”The only person that brings the Hoff down is the Hoff.
”I have brought myself down – you have all seen it a million times on YouTube.
”But I brought myself back up so I realised there are consequences for my actions.”
Hasselhoff said he had met Prime Minister David Cameron at the Houses of Parliament for lunch yesterday – and revealed he was a ”huge” Knight Rider fan.
He also spoke of his Baywatch colleague Pamela Anderson with great admiration.
He said: ”Pammie and I are friends. She’s a classy lady. She has amazing charisma.”