David Cameron: I am pro-BBC

David Tennant was one of many stars who blasted David Cameron's plans for the BBC
10 April 2012
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David Cameron has insisted he is "pro-BBC".

Dozens of stars, including Harry Enfield, Jo Brand, Eddie Izzard and David Tennant, publicly opposed Conservative plans for the corporation at the weekend.

But the Tory leader told the Radio Times: "I'm probably the most pro-BBC Conservative leader there's ever been.

"I worked at ITV (in public relations) for seven years and you learn to respect the incredibly important role the BBC plays.

"Competitors like the BBC because you're competing up here on quality rather than down here on price."

He added: "I would never do anything to put the BBC at risk. Conservatives should be as proud of establishing the BBC as Labour are of establishing the NHS."

A letter containing almost 50 signatures and sent to the Observer accused the Tories of "attacking the BBC to serve the interests of its commercial rivals".

They claimed the Conservative position "threatens to devalue not just the BBC itself, but our culture as a whole".

Mr Cameron told the Radio Times that the BBC has to "retrench a bit".

Asked about the BBC's proposals to close digital music station 6 Music, he said: "I think it's up to the BBC.

"They were trying to do too many things and they're right to focus on doing good things well. There was a moment the BBC had overreached on magazines, websites, (buying) Lonely Planet.

"I think they do need to retrench a bit and focus on what matters most. So while I might like listening to Radio 6 because it's my sort of music, you can't do everything."

Mr Cameron told the magazine he was a fan of The Magic Roundabout, Newsround and Jackanory as a child while Samantha Cameron liked Clangers.

He said he watched Neighbours, game shows Going For Gold and darts-based Bullseye at university, and was into Starsky And Hutch, The Sweeney, The Professionals and Dallas as a teenager at Eton.

These days, he told the magazine, Sunday night is his big TV night, and he enjoys Silent Witness and Waking The Dead.

He said: "I don't do TV suppers, but two nights a week at least after we've eaten we'll watch the telly. I still watch quite a lot of television."

Last year, Mr Cameron called for the licence fee to be frozen for 12 months, saying public bodies should "set an example" by keeping costs in check during the economic downturn.

Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has also expressed "serious reservations" about the BBC Trust's role as both regulator and cheerleader - suggesting it should be replaced as it "fails" the organisation.

But he has pledged to maintain the current licence fee agreement which runs to 2012.

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