BBC stars turn on corporation over licence fee decision as Ben Fogle hands salary to Age UK to help pensioners

Some of the BBC’s biggest names have rounded on the corporation for its over-75s licence fee deal, as Ben Fogle announced he will donate his salary to help pensioners meet the cost.

Jeremy Paxman, Sir Michael Palin and Baroness Bakewell were among those lamenting the decision to scrap the universal concession and restrict free licences to those who claim Pension Credit.

“Benefits are the business of government, not broadcasters. Like many of the BBC’s friends, I keep wondering how the organisation can keep shooting itself in the foot. It must look like a chunk of emmental by now,” Paxman said.

Fogle announced that he will give his salary from Animal Park, his BBC One series, to Age UK, which is campaigning against the changes. The presenter said it is wrong to “penalise” the over-75s in this way.

In a post on Instagram, Fogle said: “I love the BBC. I think it is one of the greatest institutions in the world. It is the envy of most nations, it makes amazing content and I’d argue it is still value for money.

“I also owe my whole career to the BBC. They gave me my first break and they (you) employed me for many years but I am disappointed in the recent announcement on the abolition of free licences to the over 75s.”

He explained: “I don’t entirely blame the BBC. I think the government forced their hand. I have decided to donate my entire salary for this year’s BBC Animal Park to subsidise licences for those over 75 who have no way of paying for a licence.

“My late grandparents, Jean and Dick LOVED the BBC. They would have been lost without it in their twilight years… This is not virtue signaling (although I do think it’s time to rethink the licence) but we owe it to those over 75 who have served their country in the armed forces, the NHS, the fire service etc. Let’s not penalise those who most value the great BBC.”

Fogle said he fears that “society is in danger of losing its moral compass. This is the least I can do for those over 75, an often neglected sector of society. Wouldn’t it be nice if we started respecting, loving and thanking our elderly population.”

By Wednesday night, Age UK’s petition demanding that the government take back responsibility for funding free licences had amassed more than 340,000 signatures.

Sir Michael Palin said: “I know that the BBC did a pretty bad deal, I think four years ago, saying it would take over the licences and I hoped somehow that would somehow go away and it hasn’t gone away…

“I just wish it wasn’t at the expense of the people who now have to fork out for their licence.”

Baroness Bakewell, the presenter and former ‘tsar’ for the elderly, said responsibility for the over-75s concession was “a government decision imposed on the BBC” and “pensioners who do not claim tax credits but are still needful should get a free licence”.

D-Day veterans continued to criticise the BBC. Victor Gregg, 99, told GMTV that the corporation is “robbing the piggy banks” of the old.

“I’ve always admired the BBC for it’s supposed integrity but coming out with this - it’s only days ago that they were patting all these old people on the head and calling them heroes.”

But not all veterans share that view. Eddie Gaines, 94, said there are “plenty of rich people who are quite able to pay the TV licence”.

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