Noel Edmonds boycotts licence fee
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
TV presenter Noel Edmonds was one of the BBC’s star presenters for 30 years, fronting hugely popular light entertainment television programmes such as Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Top of the Pops and Noel’s House Party. But now Edmonds has stopped paying his licence fee in response to the BBC’s “threatening” manner towards those who do not have a TV licence.
In an interview with the Breakfast show on BBC One, Edmonds declared that he had refused to pay the licence fee for four months and would do so still if the BBC continued “hectoring and threatening” the public into paying the £139.50 annual charge – a legal requirement for anyone who owns a television.
Commenting on an adverts by the TV Licensing Authority that warn of prosecution for fee evaders, Edmonds said “I worked for the BBC for 30 years. When I was there it promoted the licence fee by saying how wonderful it was because - let’s face it - the BBC licence fee is astonishing value. But now Auntie’s put boxing gloves on.
“I am not going to have the BBC or any other organisation threatening me. I’ve cancelled my TV licence and they haven’t found me. Nobody’s coming knocking on my door. There are too many organisations that seem to think it is OK to badger, hector and threaten people.”
The BBC launched a consultation last week after receiving complaints from viewers about one of its adverts which told viewers “We know where you are… Your town, your street, your home… it’s all in our database”.
A spokesperson for TV Licensing defended the advert, saying “While we would always prefer people buy a licence rather than risk prosecution and a fine, TV Licensing has a duty to enforce the licence fee on behalf of the honest majority who pay.
“Unfortunately some people will only buy a licence when warned of the consequences of being unlicensed.”
The BBC refused to comment directly on Edmonds’ remarks, but issued a statement saying the BBC will be asking viewers this week whether they thought the way the fee was collected, and the deterrents for evaders, were appropriate. “We would really encourage people to be part of that,” the paper said.
Edmonds used the BBC Breakfast interview to promote his new show, Noel’s HQ, on Sky 1. The programme aims to promote a “fairer, more caring Britain”.
“The politicians - and I’m talking about Gordon Brown – have had their chance to [improve people's lives] and look at the mess we’re now in.” he told viewers.
In the first episode, broadcast last Monday he said it was “down to the man in the street, individuals, every single person watching us this morning, to say, ‘Well, what did I do today for Britain? What did I do for people I don’t know?’”.
April 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 am
I object to paying a licence to the BBC when they continue to employ and pay Jonathan Ross a ridiculous and disproportionate salary. While England is struggling, buffoons like Ross are paid excessive and vulgar amounts, and the great unwashed plebians, like myself, are expected to fork out a licence fee. No way.