Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies has called new Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries a ‘f***ing idiot over the row concerning BBC funding.
The writer, who created the hit series It’s a Sin, also accused the Government of wanting to ‘control culture’.
It comes after Ms Dorries claimed that the BBC is staffed by people ‘whose mum and dad worked there’ and is ‘guilty of groupthink.’
Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, she called the broadcaster an institution driven by bias and staffed by people ‘whose mum and dad worked there’.
Speaking to i at the Attitude Awards, Russell showed his frustrations surrounding Ms Dorries’s suggestion that the BBC was ‘elitist’.
‘The woman’s an idiot, a big f***ing idiot,’ he said.
‘I’m here to talk about the threat of public funding and the threat to public service broadcasting.’
The writer also hit out at the Government for its approach to Channel 4, saying: ‘The threat that Channel 4 is under is even greater.’
When asked if he thought the broadcaster would be privatised, Russell said: ‘It’s doomed, nothing. It’s happened. It’s a fact, the Government has decided.
‘Your loss, my loss, our loss and they’ll just give us some more bread and circuses to take our minds off it.’
Considering whether the Government cares about culture, he added: ‘I think they care very much about controlling it. They are doing everything to change voting, rules. They’re doing everything to get in power and stay in power.’
He also criticised Ms Dorries for her suggestion that there was ‘nepotism’ at the BBC, referencing reports that she herself employed her daughters Phillipa and Jennifer to work as secretaries in her private office in 2012.
‘She talked about the BBC having nepotism when she employed her own daughter,’ Russel said.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘Russell T Davies is not a member of BBC staff and these are clearly personal views.’
Gary Lineker is among many BBC presenters and stars who have hit back at Ms Dorries’ comments about nepotism at the broadcaster.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Ms Dorries for comment.
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