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Ian Hislop refuses to sign 'luvvies' letter' against BBC cuts Ian Hislop refuses to sign 'luvvies' letter' against BBC cuts
(about 1 hour later)
Ian Hislop, who is a regular on Have I Got News For You, declined to join a host of high-profile figures in signing a public letter warning against cuts to the BBC to avoid appearing to be an “overpaid wanker”, he has revealed. Ian Hislop, a team captain on Have I Got News For You, declined to join a host of high-profile figures in signing a public letter warning against cuts to the BBC to avoid appearing to be an “overpaid wanker”, he has revealed.
Related: BBC charter review: what the panel members have said in the pastRelated: BBC charter review: what the panel members have said in the past
In an interview with the Press Gazette, Hislop questioned the significance of the missive – dubbed the “luvvies’ letter” – in which JK Rowling, Chris Evans and Daniel Craig, among others, urged the prime minister not to diminish the BBC. In an interview with the Press Gazette, Hislop questioned the significance of the missive – nicknamed the “luvvies’ letter” – in which JK Rowling, Chris Evans and Daniel Craig, among others, urged the prime minister not to diminish the BBC.
The Private Eye editor said the broadcaster, which is facing increased pressure from the government over funding, governance, performance and market impact before its charter renewal, which must take place before 2017, was playing its cards “very, very badly”.The Private Eye editor said the broadcaster, which is facing increased pressure from the government over funding, governance, performance and market impact before its charter renewal, which must take place before 2017, was playing its cards “very, very badly”.
Hislop confirmed he had been asked to sign the letter but declined – and would not reveal who had asked him. “Had I seen my own name on the list, I would have thought: ‘You overpaid wanker – why should I care what you say?’,” he said. “I mean, if there was a letter from 50 midwives saying: ‘The only thing that makes our lives bearable is watching Poldark’ – that’s a worthwhile letter. Hislop confirmed he had been asked to sign the letter but declined – and would not reveal who had asked him. “Had I seen my own name on the list, I would have thought: ‘You overpaid wanker – why should I care what you say?’,” he said.
“I mean, if there was a letter from 50 midwives saying: ‘The only thing that makes our lives bearable is watching Poldark’ – that’s a worthwhile letter.
“To have a letter from a load of famous people saying ‘I like the BBC and I get paid by them’, I mean, so what?”“To have a letter from a load of famous people saying ‘I like the BBC and I get paid by them’, I mean, so what?”
Among figures to sign the letter were Gary Lineker, Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, Judi Dench and David Attenborough. The letter came shortly after the culture secretary, John Whittingdale, announced he had reached a deal with the broadcaster’s director general, Tony Hall, to place the burden of free licence fees for the over-75s on the BBC.Among figures to sign the letter were Gary Lineker, Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, Judi Dench and David Attenborough. The letter came shortly after the culture secretary, John Whittingdale, announced he had reached a deal with the broadcaster’s director general, Tony Hall, to place the burden of free licence fees for the over-75s on the BBC.
“In our view, a diminished BBC would simply mean a diminished Britain,” the letter said.“In our view, a diminished BBC would simply mean a diminished Britain,” the letter said.
Hislop said the BBC has a “huge amount of things going for it”, listing the Proms, radio and documentaries among his personal highlights. Hislop said the BBC has a huge amount of things going for it, listing the Proms, radio and documentaries among his personal highlights. Asked if he was worried for the corporation’s future, he said: “I think it’s playing all its cards very, very badly at the moment.”
Asked if he was worried for the corporation’s future, he said: “I think it’s playing all its cards very, very badly at the moment.”
He added: “But it’s allowed itself to get into a position where everything it does appears to be self-defeating. And I hate the thought that that’s going to end up with them emasculated and feeble.He added: “But it’s allowed itself to get into a position where everything it does appears to be self-defeating. And I hate the thought that that’s going to end up with them emasculated and feeble.
“In our business you know pretty well why the Mail and the Murdoch empire, every time the Beeb do anything, they get slammed. But there’s a feebleness and a lack of robustness about the Beeb – and obviously cack-handedness – that has allowed it to be in this position of people going: ‘Ooh, the BBC, it’s a big worry’.”“In our business you know pretty well why the Mail and the Murdoch empire, every time the Beeb do anything, they get slammed. But there’s a feebleness and a lack of robustness about the Beeb – and obviously cack-handedness – that has allowed it to be in this position of people going: ‘Ooh, the BBC, it’s a big worry’.”