ALAN ALDA - ALDA STUNNED BY WEST WING SUCCESS

Veteran actor ALAN ALDA was stunned presidential drama THE WEST WING attracted so many viewers, because he didn't realise how many Americans were quick-witted enough to understand the dialogue. The former M.A.S.H. star, 70, was a fan of the NBC White House show for many years before he was invited to play Senator ARNOLD VINICK in 2004, but admits he found it hard to keep up with the programme's snappy dialogue. He says, "They talk too fast - it's so dense. "I don't understand how eight million people are so glued to it and could follow it. "I was proud of my country that so many people could get into it."