It’s an outrage, say the stars on super salaries
A PARADE of highly paid BBC stars have launched an attack on the Government’s new get-tough approach to the licence fee.
Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker, who is paid about £1.36million a year, said: ‘The BBC is revered, respected and envied around the world.
‘It should be the most treasured of National treasures. Something true patriots of our country should be proud of. It should never be a voice for those in government, whoever is in power.’
BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker, paid up to £299,999, said: ‘I am well aware that the BBC makes mistakes and needs to change, but the media landscape would be much poorer without it.’
He added: ‘Those three letters are trusted and respected around the world.’
BBC Dragons’ Den judge Deborah Meaden said: ‘For those kicking the BBC right now... you will miss it when it’s gone.’
And BBC2 Only Connect presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell said: ‘It’s hard for press and politicians to see it clearly, because they’re trapped inside their own relationship with the news.
‘They don’t understand that most people just see a load of programmes they love.
‘It’s not a professional threat – it’s a comfort.’
Comedian David Baddiel, who has presented BBC shows for decades, said: ‘If, as the Government is implying re the BBC, we should only pay for something we like and agree with, I wonder if I can ask for all the money back I’ve had to spend in taxes on Brexit.’
Armando Iannucci, who created political satire The Thick of It and spoof news show The Day Today for the BBC , said: ‘First you come for Channel 4 because you don’t like its reporting of events.
‘Now you come for the BBC because you don’t like its reporting of events.
‘Have you ever considered whether it’s the events themselves that are the problem?’
Presenter Richard Bacon, who has worked for the BBC, said: ‘The plan to scrap the licence fee is pathetic. Is that it? Is that how govt works? An institution that’s popular, global, prestigious, unique & British gets undone because the govt thinks the news bits of the BBC aren’t nice enough about them. So all the BBC loses its licence fee.’
Comedian Nish Kumar said: ‘This Government is a pack of p **** dup cultural vandals.’