LORD PATTEN has told the BBC to go upmarket and end the acceptance of ‘vulgar’ programmes – saying the corporation should not be scared of being tagged ‘intellectual’, the Daily Mail reported.
The BBC Trust chairman believes radio and TV should introduce listeners and viewers to ‘good books, great paintings or beautiful music … which improved the quality of civic life in the country’.
Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention yesterday, he said audiences should be given ‘the respect they deserve’ and the broadcaster should make a ‘bold assertion of excellence’, standing ‘four-square’ against any decline into mediocrity.
But while he wanted the BBC to live more ‘dangerously’ to be distinctive, he warned against a ‘lowering of cultural standards’ or an ‘acceptance of the shoddy or the vulgar’.
His views could mean more shows perceived as highbrow such as Wonders of the Solar System, presented by Professor Brian Cox, and the Storyville documentary strand, at the expense of BBC3 fare such as Snog, Marry, Avoid and Confessions of a Sex Addict.
Lord Patten also said the Corporation should be able to demonstrate that Britain was not ‘going to the dogs’ and should be a ‘force for optimism’ in difficult times.
The former governor of Hong Kong cautioned against ‘defensive’ attitudes, which had seen it ‘focusing too much on the size of the audience’ as ‘the only concrete measure of success’ as well as worrying too much about criticism.
His speech comes as planned cuts of about £18 million – which would have seen local radio services share afternoon shows and the reduction of spending on current affairs in regional TV and on Radio 5 Live – have been watered down to £8 million.
The BBC will have to make up the extra £10 million of savings elsewhere.
Lord Patten also called for a renewed emphasis on doing things ‘new, different and even better’.
He said: ‘We should stand four-square against any decline into down-at-heel mediocrity. We should make a bold assertion of excellence and demonstrate that, whatever the GDP figures, Britain is home to some of the finest cultural institutions in the world, including its greatest broadcaster.
‘I remain unashamedly of the view that introducing people to good books, great paintings or beautiful music – allowing them to better pursue and appreciate their passions and interests – helps to enrich them as individuals and to improve the quality of civic life for us.’
He added that the BBC had to be at the top of its game, saying: ‘That is partly about taking ourselves more seriously and giving our audiences the respect they deserve.’
But he warned the Corporation never has been and should not be self-consciously highbrow.
He said it meant that the BBC ‘must neither be afraid of the tag “intellectual” nor become too attached too it for our own good’.
But he added: ‘That should not mean any lowering of cultural standards or any acceptance of the shoddy or vulgar.’