Television boss sparks fears for future of BBC4
THE BBC last night furiously rejected Government calls to make BBC1 more highbrow – as fears were raised that it could axe arts and culture channel BBC4.
Television boss Charlotte Moore vowed to keep BBC1 ‘ unashamedly popular’ as she dismissed claims by Culture Secretary John Whittingdale that the channel has lost its edge.
And she argued that BBC2 should become the home of cultural programming – in a move that will spark uncertainty about the future of BBC4.
In her first public address since becoming controller of the BBC’s television channels and iPlayer, Miss Moore said: ‘I don’t recognise – and more importantly neither does the public recognise – what the Secretary of State said about BBC1.
‘I don’t think it’s my job to get involved in political debates [but] I feel compelled to comment on the suggestion that BBC1 has become less distinctive in recent years.’
She added: ‘I’m not sure how much more distinctive the last few weeks could have been – with new shows like The Night Manager, our mental health season, David Attenborough’s Giant Dinosaur, Dickensian, War & Peace – not to mention the return of Happy Valley.’ She made her remarks as she unveiled a slew of new programmes, including a BBC2 adaptation of the provocative stage play, Charles III. The drama imagines a semi-fictitious Duchess of Cambridge in the days after the death of the Queen as she plots to depose her newlycrowned father in law.
Mr Whittingdale took aim at BBC1 last week after Governmentbacked research found that the channel had sacrificed arts, science and history programmes in favour of mainstream entertainment. He said: ‘BBC1 – which is the flagship, which is the most popular channel of the BBC, it’s where most people go – has become less distinctive in recent years. That is what the report says.’
But Miss Moore argued that BBC1 should be free to chase ‘big, shared moments’ while BBC2 is devoted to more highbrow subjects.
She said yesterday: ‘I want to embrace all the specialisms – from science, history and religion to current affairs, natural history, documentaries, music and the arts – because, by contrast to BBC1, audiences come to BBC2 to be informed.’
However, her vision is likely stoke fears that the BBC is preparing to get rid of BBC4, whose remit is strikingly similar to her plans for BBC2.
The channel costs £63million to run and has loyal fans, but attracts a relatively small audience.
BBC director general Lord Tony Hall has reportedly already been considering merging BBC4 with BBC2, as he battles to slash the annual budget by £700million.
The mother-of-two said very little about BBC4 last night, saying that it has a ‘unique role in the portfolio’ and is a channel for ‘adventurous minds’.
The BBC director general will today warn against proposals to let the Culture Secretary choose half of the BBC’s board members.
Addressing a conference in London, Lord Hall will say: ‘[The board] will make key decisions on programmes and services... it doesn’t feel to me that these tasks should be undertaken by Government-appointed board members.
‘The BBC is one of the world’s great public service broadcasters – not a state broadcaster.’