The Fast Show’s Paul Whitehouse, 64, shared his thoughts about the BBC on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show today on Radio 2. The Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing star explained he felt like Channel 4 and the BBC were “not in the same league”.Paul spoke to Zoe Ball, 51, about teaming up with comedy partner Harry Enfield, 61, once more to tell the BBC’s centenary story tonight, by digging into the broadcaster’s archives.The show, entitled The Love Box in Your Living Room, is inspired by the work of Adam Curtis and will be a spoof documentary that is comically critical of the BBC in honour of its 100 year legacy.Putting on one of his quirky character voices, Paul told Zoe: “Sorry to get a bit serious with you here, Zoe.“But the BBC is a unique institution and so it was a privilege to mock it, if you like,” he continued.“And if you look at the output, especially when we’re doing the twos, you know.“You think, ‘This little channel BBC Two - what it’s produced is extraordinary. Absolutely extraordinary.’“No other channel would have done it,” Paul insisted before aiming a cheeky jibe at a broadcasting rival.“I mean, I know people say Channel 4,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s in the same league, personally. I don’t.”“So, it is a joy to be able to celebrate and have a little affectionate dig,” he added.Paul’s comments follow a long debate about the BBC licence fee, with people taking different positions on whether members of the public should still have to pay for it.During her time as Culture Secretary under Boris Johnson, Nadine Dorries announced plans to scrap the BBC licence fee and to privatise Channel 4.However, new Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has said she is “re-examining the business case”.The minister also said she would be revisiting the online harms bill and the provisions around “legal but harmful” speech, which was another major policy announcement under her predecessor.The Culture Secretary was initially appointed by Liz Truss and has been able to keep her role under new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.“It is no secret that I have been a long-term sceptic of the licence fee,” the Minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme last month.“And that we need to make sure that the BBC is sustainable in the long term. So I’m looking at this in the round.“I’m somebody that listens, I’m somebody that decides policy based on evidence and that’s what I will be doing over the coming weeks.”She added that she will be taking the “same approach when it comes to Channel 4”, explaining that she would take a fresh look at the benefits and costs of privatising the broadcaster.
Copyright ©2022 Express Newspapers.