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Veteran broadcaster Terry Wogan has launched an astonishing attack on the BBC saying that it is no longer the best in the world.
In an interview to mark his 70th birthday, Wogan told Radio Times: "When I started, people who worked for the BBC knew they weren't earning as much as people in commercial television, but they did have the satisfaction of knowing that they worked for one of the finest, if not the finest, broadcasting organisation in the whole world.
"I'm not sure they feel that any more, or at least that it means as much as it used to."
He also revealed that when he sent in his first audition tape he had forgotten to rewind it and says if he had tried to join today he would not be guaranteed a job:
"I can tell you, if I was a young chap coming over from Ireland today, they probably wouldn't even listen to my tape, let alone rewind it.
"Somehow, that old-fashioned thoroughness and commitment have disappeared. I suppose no one has the time for it anymore."
The presenter, who reportedly earns £800k a year, also gave his strongest hint yet that he will no longer present Eurovision due to the political nature of the voting. He said: "I've had so much fun, but I think it's time for someone else to take over."
Do you agree with Wogan's comments? Is the BBC no longer a world class broadcaster? Let us know what you think...
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i absolutely agree with him, although the whole industry is going down the toilet. the bbc is not too left wing, whoever said that is an idiot.
Posted by: thelittlecheez on Tue Aug 12 01:02PM | Report abusesure true!!! no cartoon programs at 3:30 on normal tv for my kids. BBC is definitely lying down flat in the gutter!!!
Posted by: nparvez4 on Tue Aug 12 01:03PM | Report abusesure true!!! no cartoon programs at 3:30 on normal tv for my kids. BBC is definitely lying down flat in the gutter!!!
Posted by: nparvez4 on Tue Aug 12 01:03PM | Report abuseI quiet agree with Terry Wogan, the BBC has changed and not for the better over the years, ok life and things are changing they have to, to adapt to new evolving life, times and technology but where is it all getting us to, look at society now for over the past forty years or so people have become more thoughtless and no-one gives respect to children, @#$% or adults alike but they each expect it for themselves, and worst of all NO-ONE LISTENS! or takes time to think maybe they are wrong not others!
Posted by: pauline.munro2 on Tue Aug 12 01:03PM | Report abusei total agree with what terry say, most night now i dont bother to look at show bbc offers. i would just look at sky instead. what most bothers me is that the bbc is no longer good but yet we have to still spend are money on them though tax. the bbc should be made privete and stand on its own just like every other channal and most likely the bbc would come up with better show to remain competitive insteand of wasting are money.
Posted by: eyersian on Tue Aug 12 01:03PM | Report abusei agree with all wogan has said, seems to have lost its way
Posted by: paulinestalbot on Tue Aug 12 01:03PM | Report abuseFollowing the comentating on the Olympics as a prime example .... I agree with Terry: can't we clone him?
Posted by: beef_langley on Tue Aug 12 01:03PM | Report abuseThe way i see it, the BBC has changed because the audience has changed. It would seem that the standards of society as a whole have taken a nose dive... why shouldn't the BBC reflect that? With respect to the competition, i'd still say the BBC ranks among the upper echelons. It just seems that the benchmark itself has fallen. Mind you.. with all the UK's and the world's problems perhaps we should spend more time trying to fix the TV addicted society rather than improve the quality of tripe they're addicted to.
Posted by: mrblancheuk on Tue Aug 12 01:04PM | Report abuseI very rarley watch the BBC anymore the few things i do watch are still the best in the world but they are very few and far between and if i had a choice of not paying TV licence !! then i would sacrifice not watching the BBC at all
Posted by: mandybonnett on Tue Aug 12 01:04PM | Report abuseThe BBC is no longer a force to be recognised the programming is dated out of touch with the people general expectation
Posted by: thierrykalis on Tue Aug 12 01:04PM | Report abuse