Professor of history Tom Devine boasts an unrivalled knowledge of Scotland’s past and is highly respected within the academic community.

Neil Oliver is the enthusiastic populist television presenter known for his long, dark locks.

The pair are embroiled in a war of words after Devine, who is head of history, classics and archaeology at Edinburgh University, described the BBC series A History of Scotland, fronted by Oliver, as “fatally flawed,” adding that it was profoundly disappointing and resembled a “mediocre B movie.”

Devine derided Oliver, a former local newspaper reporter and press officer, as “hapless” and speculated that he was hired for his looks rather than his academic expertise.

However, Oliver dismissed Devine as a “fool” with a narrow knowledge of Scottish history.

He suggested that it was unwise for a “plump old man” to comment critically on the personal appearances of others.

Devine’s comments came as A History of Scotland returned to screens last night for the first of five episodes covering four centuries from the 1600s to the present.

The history professor, who declined a place on the programme’s advisory board, was openly critical when the first episodes screened last year.

Devine said he believed the BBC had missed an opportunity to make a groundbreaking series on Scotland’s history.

He was also critical of the decision to use Oliver and said: “There is the hapless long-haired presenter who must have been signed up because he is physically in the old visual tradition of Braveheart and the Highlander movies.”

Oliver, who has a degree in archaeology, laughed off Devine’s remarks and questioned his credentials as a TV critic.

“Tom specialises in a very narrow range of Scottish history. His business is lecturing students in a classroom and doesn’t know anything about how to make a television series. By attempting to make that critique he comes across as a silly old fool.”

Oliver added he was not offended by the personal criticism.

He added: “I could not be less interested in what a plump old man thinks about my physical appearance.”

Just last week, BBC Scotland insisted the Bafta Scotland-nominated series had been a major success, with some 1.6 million Scottish viewers tuning in.