Whittingdale strikes back

John Whittingdale yesterday hit out at “ill-founded hysterical speculation by Left-wing luvvies” about his intentions for the BBC. Despite the BBC giving a cautious welcome to the Culture Secretary’s proposals for its future, a number of actors took to the airwaves to criticise him. In a thinly veiled reference to Mr Whittingdale’s recently disclosed relationship with a dominatrix, Sue Perkins, the Great British Bake Off presenter, below, wrote on Twitter: “I’d happily hog-tie and paddle Mr Whittingdale for what he has done – only I suspect he’d rather enjoy it.” Peter Kosminsky, the director of Wolf

Hall, said he was “not reassured at all” about the BBC’s future. However, Lenny Henry, who has campaigned for greater diversity in the media, welcomed plans to enshrine a commitment to diversity in the royal charter.