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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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No more Wogan during Eurovision!! I'm even more gutted that I missed this year's contest now!
Posted by: cookiemonster1989 on Tue Aug 12 01:08PM | Report abuseWogan's comments are indeed the type of criticism the BBC has needed from it's own people in a very long time. It's time they start brining back the good, quality programs they had a decade ago. However I must admit within it's ruin lye at least one gem - 'Who Do You Think You Are?'
Posted by: kwickxxx on Tue Aug 12 01:08PM | Report abuseGood for you Terry, Eurovision is no longer entertainment, & neither is the BEEB, unless you want to watch repeats all the time?? & as far as the radio is concerned, who are all the new presenters that they are using ???who wants to listen to Elaine paige rattling on or Aled Jones boyo spouting religion on R2,??? get some descent DJ's back on air, who play descent music & can chat about almost anything, & as far as the Eurovision song contest well that another farce, it should be renamed the World Song Contest, how many non european countries are now taking part,??? I am not saying this because we are not winning , we dont deserve to win, as we havent put forward any descent songs, for this so called competition, for the past decade
Posted by: greenstone22 on Tue Aug 12 01:08PM | Report abusethe bbc are a bunch of thieving parasites stealing off the poorest in the country to subsidise their greedy middle class filth that they call television get rid of wogan and the rest of the trash
Posted by: donttalkrun on Tue Aug 12 01:08PM | Report abusesadly its all about growing the company and making money - thats all any business cares about these days - customer service has gone right out of the window,
Posted by: jamesdean2002uk on Tue Aug 12 01:08PM | Report abuseWhat gets my back up with the BBC are all the adverts, sometimes it's as bad as channel 5.
Posted by: jedbmc on Tue Aug 12 01:09PM | Report abuseI come from Canada originally where we were bombarded by bad America TV - trust me, the BBC is the finest broadcaster in the world.
Posted by: ylijuuti2 on Tue Aug 12 01:09PM | Report abuseNational news coverage is dire, It is cringe worthy to see how much this channel acts as a conditioner and mouthpiece of government policy and not going too hard on them when things go wrong, not covering mass demonstrations in London etc. What's in it for them? Not loosing their legal right to extract a considerable sum of money from every TV owner of the British public in the form of the License fee im guessing. That makes you cheap BBC, and at its worst not healthy for Democracy
Posted by: infernalimp on Tue Aug 12 01:09PM | Report abuse"Bonekickers" Nuff said.
Posted by: gloops.t21 on Tue Aug 12 01:09PM | Report abuseThe BBC need to stay well aloof from the cheap new wave soaps and programmes that breed Britains greed for tacky programming that has very little substance. The BBC was the king of quality television that brought us educational and well made TV and drama. However off late the crown has slipped to a East End gutter. I am amazed the BBC cover Eurovision let alone send a quality presenter who produces more entertainment than the so called entertainers
Posted by: dodgyanddylan on Tue Aug 12 01:09PM | Report abuse