Edited sentence: A controversial  Channel 4 programme rated Merthyr Tydfil as the third worst place to live in Britain in 2006 following areas of London.Has 30% of the population suffering from a limiting long-term illness.However, in the 2007 edition of the same programme, Merthyr had `improved` to fifth worst place to live.In Britain today, Merthyr:.Ranks 13th worst for economic activity.Ranks 13th worst for life expectancy: women live on average 79.1 years, and men 75.5.This is lower than the average for England but better than the Scotland and Northern England averages