There is one qualification which ought to be vital for Tony Hall’s replacement as director-general of the BBC, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the BBC Board, which is charged with making the appointment, will regard it instead as a disqualification. The new director-general needs to accept that the licence fee will disappear when the BBC’s charter next comes up for renewal in seven years’ time and commit to preparing for a fully-commercial future.
But don’t hold your breath. It is a racing certainty that we will end up with the opposite: someone who will plead to the government how essential it is that we continue to have a BBC funded by the hypothecated tax that is the licence fee and will bleat all day long about what a tragedy it would be if the BBC had to sully itself with commerce.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in