Dame Esther brands BBC licence means testing as ‘insensitive’
Dame Esther Rantzen has said the BBC’S timing in ending the universal free TV licence for over-75s is “insensitive”.
But the 80-year-old broadcaster and Silver Line founder said it was the action of politicians that felt like a “slap in the face to older people”.
Her comments come after the BBC confirmed it would start means-testing the entitlement from 1 August, having previously delayed its introduction because of the pandemic. The BBC has said continuing the universal entitlement would hit “programmes and services”.
Dame Esther said it would have been “kinder” if the BBC waited until September when life could be easier for pensioners.
“The BBC probably feel that their reputation is very high at the moment,” the former That’s Life presenter said.
“They’ve been a fantastic source of news, they’re offering educational programmes for children who can’t go to school. So they’re taking advantage of this moment, but I think that they should have left it until September, when life would have eased up a bit for all of us, particularly for older people.”
She said: “I think if the BBC had waited until the autumn it would have been kinder.
“But my main criticism at the moment is for the politicians. I do think that [Culture Secretary] Oliver Dowden, who said he felt let down by the BBC, was shifting blame.
“It was Gordon Brown who decided to make this gift of free television licences and it was George Osborne [then Chancellor] who took it away and said the government would no longer fund it. And that’s what feels like a slap in the face to older people.”
Dame Esther said: “I think the isolation that they’ve [older people] been going through, particularly during the pandemic, it’s been intensified.
“And they depend upon their television for company, for keeping them in touch with the world outside ... I think it’s insensitive timing.”
Over-75s must receive pension credit to receive the free TV licence, which costs those who pay £157.50, from 1 August. The BBC agreed to take on responsibility for funding the scheme as part of the charter agreement hammered out with the UK government in 2015.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said the Prime Minister disagreed with the move. “This is the wrong decision,” the spokesman said.
The BBC said safety would be at the “heart” of the scheme, as “no-one needs to take any immediate action, or leave their home, to claim for a free TV licence or pay for one”.