Sir Bruce Forsyth said he would concentrate on just BBC One and BBC Two if he was the director general of the BBC.
The 87-year-old showbiz veteran joined a chorus of support for the corporation but suggested getting rid of a couple of channels.
Speaking at the Radio Times Festival, Sir Bruce said: "I think the BBC should be with us forever because it does so much good. Because of its worldwide appeal - when I'm anywhere abroad and can get BBC news, that means everything. So the news part of it should keep going.
"Maybe if they got rid of a couple of channels... maybe they could do without channel Three and channel Four and just concentrate on One and Two.That's what I'd do if I was director general."
He added: "They are having to spread too much money out over four channels."
Sir Bruce also hailed Strictly Come Dancing as "the greatest format on television for the last 20 to 25 years".
"I can't see anything better than that," the former host of the show said.
Of his decision to leave last year, he said: "There's nothing worse as a performer when you start to feel you're not giving it what you should do.
"I was getting a little bit stale with it, that's what worries me. When you've got to go, you've got to go.
"I never, ever got completely used to the audience being so remote, because I do love contact... which made the show, for me, a very difficult show to do."
The popular entertainer looked relaxed as he made fun of the audience and the event's host, Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid.
He said: "I know all about you. All this flirting with David Cameron, and then last week with David Beckham," to which Reid joked: "You're about to be Susanna-ed."
Sir Bruce replied: "You just be careful because I've got a Latin wife, and she can turn pretty nasty."
He also described Reid as "well-built" during their conversation.
The much-loved star looked back on his 75-year career, saying The Beatles were "electrifying" to meet and that he would never do anything better than performing at the London Palladium.
Strictly Bruce: Stories Of My Life, published by Bantam Press, is out now.