Post by Teddy Bear on May 3, 2015 19:50:58 GMT
It's a breath of fresh air to find a politician with the guts to actually speak their mind instead of the usual conforming to PC garbage.
Exterminate Doctor Who and Strictly? Ukip panic after Farage calls for an end to all BBC entertainment shows
By Matt Chorley, Political Editor for MailOnline
The BBC should stop making all entertainment programmes, Nigel Farage said today triggering a row about the future of hit shows like Dr Who and Strictly Come Dancing.
The Ukip leader said the Corporation should stop making entertainment shows, in a move branded 'terrible' by Lib Dem Nick Clegg.
Mr Farage, who has said he is boycotting the BBC over its coverage of his election campaign, used an interview on BBC One to demand curbs on its power and a cut in the licence fee.
Despite saying 'the BBC does not need to be doing all of these things' when discussing Doctor Who, the Ukip leader later rushed out a statement insisting it was actually makeover and dating shows he had a problem with.
Ukip has declared 'war' on the BBC, claiming it has failed to give it due prominence as one of the top four parties in the country.
In an escalation of the row, Mr Farage pulled out of a debate on BBC Radio 1 last week.
Senior insiders vowed not to co-operate with the Corporation, before admitting that he would still appear in BBC One debate, along with interviews on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show, and the Andrew Marr show on BBC One.
Today Mr Farage used his appearance on the Marr show to demand an end to all BBC entertainment programmes. The Ukip leader said: 'I think the BBC as a public service broadcaster has a role.
'I think the BBC as a global brand for this country is very, very important.
'But I think the BBC is far too big and has far too much influence. I don't think it needs to do entertainment for example.'
Interviewer Andrew Marr asked if it meant programmes like Dr Who would be axed, adding: 'Vote UKIP and exterminate the doctor?'
Mr Farage then appeared to confirm that the hit sci-fi show, one of the BBC's biggest global exports, should be axed.
He said: 'We now have you know lots of commercial channels out there. We have cable television. The BBC does not need to be doing all of these things.'
Farage: I don't think the BBC needs to do 'entertainment'
Mr Farage was challenged about whether hit shows like Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing should be axed, and he said entertainment should be produced by cable TV channels
Marr suggested that other programmes including 'Strictly Come Dancing, all of that kind of stuff, would go'.
Mr Farage did not deny the idea, and went on to complain about the local BBC news websites.
Appearing together on the TV sofa later, Mr Clegg took Ukip leader to task for his attack on the entertainment shows.
As Mr Farage talked about the EU, Mr Clegg hit back: 'You also want to do away with Strictly Come Dancing, that's terrible, that's much more important.'
Perhaps, sensing the public backlash, Mr Farage tried to row back: 'No, no, no, no, no.
'I've never suggested that for a moment.'
Ukip released a statement which appeared to directly contradict Mr Farage's interview, but did not say the the two hit shows should continue.
In it, Mr Farage was quoted as saying: 'When it comes to entertainment, the BBC should be proud of its 'crown jewels' such as Strictly Come Dancing and dramas such as Dr Who. They have become valuable global brands as well as programmes hugely appreciated by British audiences.
'Should the BBC feel it has to come up with its own version of every commercial TV genre, from dating formats to home makeover shows? I don't think so.'
A spokesman added: 'Some people have wilfully misinterpreted Nigel's comments on Andrew Marr this morning.
'Shows like Strictly and Dr Who are the crown jewels of the BBC, but we do not feel that it needs to spend licence-fee payers' money on hundreds of poor to average entertainment shows, as well as left-liberal, London-centric 'comedy'.'
The future of popular BBC programmes can be hugely controversial if politicians are seen to put them in doubt.
At the height of the Scottish independence referendum campaign last year, Alex Salmond was forced to insisted that Strictly, Doctor Who and CBeebies would still be shown even if Scots severed ties with the UK.
Mr Farage is unhappy about the BBC's election coverage, after Ofcom ruled that for commercial broadcasters Ukip should be treated as a 'major party'.
He said: 'The whole debate about the BBC's licenece fee and its role is coming up over the two or three years and I want Ukip to have some input to that.
'Ukip was adjudged by Ofcom to be one of the four major parties in British politics.
'And frankly the BBC have not treated us like that during this general election campaign.'
He also demanded that the BBC website be shrunk or even closed, to stop it putting local newspapers out of business.
'I think there's a real question about the BBC website and about local news.
'I say this because if we believe in free press, then in the BBC local websites are as strong and heavily funded as they are, how can local newspapers or local websites even compete.
'There is a problem that out in the regions the BBC is beginning to obliterate other voices in the media.'
Nigel Farage: The BBC are biased against UKIP
Relations between Ukip and the BBC have deteriorated in recent weeks,
The party even lodged a complaint with the police about a comment on comedy panel show Have I Got News For You last week.
Journalist Camilla Long said she'd spent more time in South Thanet than Mr Farage, who is standing for election in the Kent seat.
Mr Farage, who said he had held more than 20 public meetings in the constituency since January and has a residence there, said it was a 'blatant' breach of electoral law.
Kent Police confirmed that it had received the complaint, but said no action would be taken.
A Ukip spokesman today said: 'The BBC's coverage of this election has been so biased against UKIP that we are having to be extra selective of what we use Nigel's time for.
'Besides long-standing agreed interviews, we will be using his time more efficiently, like campaigning in South Thanet.'
- Ukip leader says the BBC should stop making entertainment programmes
- Wants Corporation to concentrate on public service broadcasting
- Shows like Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing should be on cable TV
- Also calls for BBC website to stop competing with local newspapers
By Matt Chorley, Political Editor for MailOnline
The BBC should stop making all entertainment programmes, Nigel Farage said today triggering a row about the future of hit shows like Dr Who and Strictly Come Dancing.
The Ukip leader said the Corporation should stop making entertainment shows, in a move branded 'terrible' by Lib Dem Nick Clegg.
Mr Farage, who has said he is boycotting the BBC over its coverage of his election campaign, used an interview on BBC One to demand curbs on its power and a cut in the licence fee.
Despite saying 'the BBC does not need to be doing all of these things' when discussing Doctor Who, the Ukip leader later rushed out a statement insisting it was actually makeover and dating shows he had a problem with.
Ukip has declared 'war' on the BBC, claiming it has failed to give it due prominence as one of the top four parties in the country.
In an escalation of the row, Mr Farage pulled out of a debate on BBC Radio 1 last week.
Senior insiders vowed not to co-operate with the Corporation, before admitting that he would still appear in BBC One debate, along with interviews on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show, and the Andrew Marr show on BBC One.
Today Mr Farage used his appearance on the Marr show to demand an end to all BBC entertainment programmes. The Ukip leader said: 'I think the BBC as a public service broadcaster has a role.
'I think the BBC as a global brand for this country is very, very important.
'But I think the BBC is far too big and has far too much influence. I don't think it needs to do entertainment for example.'
Interviewer Andrew Marr asked if it meant programmes like Dr Who would be axed, adding: 'Vote UKIP and exterminate the doctor?'
Mr Farage then appeared to confirm that the hit sci-fi show, one of the BBC's biggest global exports, should be axed.
He said: 'We now have you know lots of commercial channels out there. We have cable television. The BBC does not need to be doing all of these things.'
Farage: I don't think the BBC needs to do 'entertainment'
Mr Farage was challenged about whether hit shows like Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing should be axed, and he said entertainment should be produced by cable TV channels
Marr suggested that other programmes including 'Strictly Come Dancing, all of that kind of stuff, would go'.
Mr Farage did not deny the idea, and went on to complain about the local BBC news websites.
Appearing together on the TV sofa later, Mr Clegg took Ukip leader to task for his attack on the entertainment shows.
As Mr Farage talked about the EU, Mr Clegg hit back: 'You also want to do away with Strictly Come Dancing, that's terrible, that's much more important.'
Perhaps, sensing the public backlash, Mr Farage tried to row back: 'No, no, no, no, no.
'I've never suggested that for a moment.'
Ukip released a statement which appeared to directly contradict Mr Farage's interview, but did not say the the two hit shows should continue.
In it, Mr Farage was quoted as saying: 'When it comes to entertainment, the BBC should be proud of its 'crown jewels' such as Strictly Come Dancing and dramas such as Dr Who. They have become valuable global brands as well as programmes hugely appreciated by British audiences.
'Should the BBC feel it has to come up with its own version of every commercial TV genre, from dating formats to home makeover shows? I don't think so.'
A spokesman added: 'Some people have wilfully misinterpreted Nigel's comments on Andrew Marr this morning.
'Shows like Strictly and Dr Who are the crown jewels of the BBC, but we do not feel that it needs to spend licence-fee payers' money on hundreds of poor to average entertainment shows, as well as left-liberal, London-centric 'comedy'.'
The future of popular BBC programmes can be hugely controversial if politicians are seen to put them in doubt.
At the height of the Scottish independence referendum campaign last year, Alex Salmond was forced to insisted that Strictly, Doctor Who and CBeebies would still be shown even if Scots severed ties with the UK.
Mr Farage is unhappy about the BBC's election coverage, after Ofcom ruled that for commercial broadcasters Ukip should be treated as a 'major party'.
He said: 'The whole debate about the BBC's licenece fee and its role is coming up over the two or three years and I want Ukip to have some input to that.
'Ukip was adjudged by Ofcom to be one of the four major parties in British politics.
'And frankly the BBC have not treated us like that during this general election campaign.'
He also demanded that the BBC website be shrunk or even closed, to stop it putting local newspapers out of business.
'I think there's a real question about the BBC website and about local news.
'I say this because if we believe in free press, then in the BBC local websites are as strong and heavily funded as they are, how can local newspapers or local websites even compete.
'There is a problem that out in the regions the BBC is beginning to obliterate other voices in the media.'
Nigel Farage: The BBC are biased against UKIP
Relations between Ukip and the BBC have deteriorated in recent weeks,
The party even lodged a complaint with the police about a comment on comedy panel show Have I Got News For You last week.
Journalist Camilla Long said she'd spent more time in South Thanet than Mr Farage, who is standing for election in the Kent seat.
Mr Farage, who said he had held more than 20 public meetings in the constituency since January and has a residence there, said it was a 'blatant' breach of electoral law.
Kent Police confirmed that it had received the complaint, but said no action would be taken.
A Ukip spokesman today said: 'The BBC's coverage of this election has been so biased against UKIP that we are having to be extra selective of what we use Nigel's time for.
'Besides long-standing agreed interviews, we will be using his time more efficiently, like campaigning in South Thanet.'
