David Cameron has fired a shot across the bow of the BBC demanding the Corporation produce more home-grown dramas and comedies to justify its continuing licence fee.
Ahead of the Royal Charter’s renewal in 2016, the prime minister said that though he remained a supporter of the licence as a method of paying for the broadcaster, Auntie should move to better its output by producing mote British TV programmes, rather than reply on buying in imports such as Borgen, The Bridge and The Killing.
Speaking at a question-and-answer session in Birmingham on Heart, Capital and Smooth Radio, Cameron said: "I'm in favour of the licence fee, but I'm in favour of making sure they get good value for money.”
"I often wonder why is it we make something amazing like The Office and we just make eight episodes. You've got Modern Family and they're churning out series seven or something.
"So, let's try and make sure we produce the hits of the future, rather than having to brush up on our Danish and read the subtitles."
A BBC spokesman told the Press Association: "With global hits like Doctor Who, Sherlock and Call The Midwife, the vast majority of programming on the BBC is home-grown. Imports make up a very, very small percentage of our output."