Thick of It creator comes to defence of the BBC

WRITER AND director Armando Iannucci has launched a passionate defence of the BBC and said British television needs support amid political attacks.

He warned that tampering with the BBC would be “madness”, and that politicians – with no expertise in the area – have got the British television industry “completely wrong”.

In a speech, the satirist warned that politicians could become “masters” of the industry, adding: “It will be a distracting interference and ultimately harmful to British television.”

Oscar and Emmy-nominated Iannucci, who directed the cult hit I’m Alan Partridge and political comedies The Thick Of It and Veep, said: “Faced with a global audience now, British television needs its champion supporters, it needs its cheerleaders.

“Who will they be? The Government? Not while they consistently talk of reining in our greatest network.

“The broadcasters? Not while most of their energies are dissipated fighting off political attacks on their impartiality or finances.

“Now, of course, our friends in Whitehall would argue that, as the BBC’s charter comes up for renewal, it’s important to see how the Corporation can operate even more effectively.

“I’d argue back that starting a debate on how the BBC should be funded just days after lopping 20 per cent off its budget without discussion, seems pretty much to me like shutting the stable door after the horse has been boltgunned.”

Iannucci hailed British viewers too and said they are “the best audience in the world”.