Hugh Bonneville warns of ‘catastrophic’ consequences if BBC disappears

Downton Abbey star said it was ‘disgraceful’ that the BBC was blamed for the recent licence fee changes

Paddington star Hugh Bonneville has said that it would be “catastrophic” for the BBC to disappear.

The actor made the comment in reaction to BBC’s retraction of free TV licences for the over-75s, after the Conservative government made the broadcaster responsible for them.

Speaking to the Radio Times, Bonneville said: “The BBC at its best entertains, informs and educates sublimely. It should be given freedom to do so.

“It is disgraceful that media moguls blame the BBC for over-75s having to pay their licences. That was a political decision by David Cameron.”

He added that the BBC needed continued “funding and support” otherwise the UK “will have Fox News, which would be utterly catastrophic for this country”.

In a recent interview with The Independent, Bonneville also criticised the government’s handling of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“Let’s face it, the decision-making has been catastrophically slow and confused and messy,” he said. “Whenever [Boris] Johnson has options, he will only make a choice when there’s just one choice left to be made. And then it’s too late.

“I was no fan of Margaret Thatcher in any way, shape or form, but my God, she would have led from the front on this, and she would have been decisive on day one.”

Bonneville can next be seen in the film To Olivia, which arrives on Sky Cinema on Friday 19 February.