dq. SHOCKING: UK Culture Secretary Sparks Firestorm After Claiming “An Awful Lot of People” Now Prefer Fox News Over the BBC

UK Culture Minister Ian Murray has stirred debate by claiming that “lots of people out there” would prefer to see Fox News on BBC One instead of BBC News, a remark that reflects the mounting political pressure surrounding Britain’s public broadcaster as it navigates one of the most turbulent periods in its modern history. Speaking at the British Screen Forum (BSF), Murray delivered his blunt assessment while acknowledging the powerful forces that would like to see the century-old institution radically transformed—or even dismantled.

Murray’s comments come as the Labour government finds itself facing increasing competition from Reform UK, the populist right-leaning party led by GB News figurehead Nigel Farage. A long-time critic of the BBC and an ally of Donald Trump, Farage has repeatedly argued that the broadcaster is biased, outdated, and funded unfairly. Deadline understands that Murray’s reference to “lots of people” was pointed specifically at such high-profile critics and political actors rather than the general British public, yet the phrasing underscored the intensity of the ideological battle surrounding the BBC’s future.

In his speech, Murray urged both policymakers and citizens to recognise the cultural stakes of the moment. With the BBC still reeling from the Trump Panorama editing scandal—which triggered the resignation of both the Director General and the head of news, while prompting the former US President to threaten a staggering $1 billion lawsuit—Murray argued that the corporation’s ability to maintain independence is under threat from those who would prefer a more partisan model. “Be under no illusions,” he said. “There are lots of people out there who want to see it go. They would rather see Fox News on BBC One than BBC News. But if we go down that route then our national story will be diminished.”

Murray’s plea comes at a critical juncture for the BBC, with its upcoming charter renewal process poised to define the organisation’s funding model, editorial structure, and public remit for the next decade. The Trump scandal, he said, has provided “insight into what will be prominent in the charter review,” noting that the controversy revealed both the BBC’s vulnerabilities and the high expectations placed on it. “The BBC is a big organization,” he added. “It will make mistakes and have editorial challenges, but let’s set that aside and say that the positive thing that has happened over the past year is people have come out to support the BBC.”

Murray emphasized that both the public and parliament have shown strong support for a “fiercely independent BBC that continues to be trusted and truthful,” despite recent attacks on its integrity. His remarks echoed those of his boss, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who recently condemned politicians for “launching a sustained attack” on the broadcaster with claims of institutional bias. Murray’s warning suggests that more battles lie ahead as the BBC attempts to defend its role while opponents argue for sweeping reforms.

Appearing after Murray on the BSF panel, former ITV chair Peter Bazalgette pushed the discussion further by arguing that the UK government should invest an additional £200 million to £300 million into the BBC World Service. Such funding, he explained, could enable the organisation to reach up to one billion global viewers and listeners, a major leap from its current reach of about 450 million. With the United States under Donald Trump slashing support for Voice of America, Bazalgette framed this moment as a rare opportunity for Britain to expand its soft power. “We need to back the BBC World Service,” he said. “I doubt we will do it though.”

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has continued to promote a radically diminished vision for the broadcaster, telling The Telegraph earlier this week that the BBC should limit its output strictly to news and that the licence fee—the financial foundation of the organisation—is “completely unacceptable.” His comments reflect a wider push from right-wing critics who argue that the BBC’s universal funding model is outdated in the age of streaming and commercial news networks.

Murray, who has recently taken over the Minister of State role from Chris Bryant, appears determined to push back against such arguments while preparing for what could be one of the most consequential charter debates in the BBC’s history. Addressing the BSF audience—which included TikTok UK boss Dominic Burns, Prime Video Europe chief Andrew Bennett, and filmmaker Richard Curtis—he urged the industry to rally behind the broadcaster. “The ecosystem has to help us with that argument,” he said, making it clear that the fight to preserve the BBC’s public service mission will require broad cultural support, not just political will.

The minister’s comments captured the fraught crossroads at which the BBC now stands. As critics grow louder and political threats more pointed, the government faces a formidable challenge in safeguarding the broadcaster’s independence. For Murray, the danger is not merely bureaucratic or financial—it is existential. Whether the BBC’s next chapter resembles a strengthened global public service power or something closer to a commercially driven partisan outlet may ultimately depend on how successfully the government can defend it in the turbulent years ahead.