BBC must ‘take fun seriously’ says Government

The BBC must “take fun seriously” by placing entertainment at the heart of its schedules, the Government has said in its White Paper on the future of the Corporation.

Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, set out guidelines for the BBC over the next 10 years. In a statement to the Commons she said that fun must be ingrained into the BBC Royal Charter.

“What [licence fee payers] cared about most was getting BBC programmes they wanted to watch and listen to,” she said. “So the White Paper makes entertainment central to the BBC’s mission.”

The Government has spent the past two years consulting the public on what they want from the BBC. And the message has come back that audiences want entertainment above all else.

Miss Jowell cited Strictly Come Dancing and natural history programme Planet Earth as prime examples of good BBC shows.

“This isn’t about writing the BBC a blank cheque or chasing ratings through copycat programming,” she said. “It is about ensuring that the BBC deliver what licence fee payers deserve - quality and distinctiveness.”

The White Paper sets out conditions for renewal of the BBC’s Royal Charter, which expires at the end of the year.

It aims “to put the licence fee payer at the heart of everything the BBC does”, Miss Jowell said.

The White Paper guaranteed the licence fee for the next 10 years, with a review of future BBC funding planned for 2012.

Telegraph