'Executive-run place for idiots': Jennifer Saunders bemoans 'unrecognisable' BBC

The Absolutely Fabulous comedian has blasted the BBC for becoming 'top-heavy' and losing its fun
8 October 2013
The Weekender

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Jennifer Saunders today branded the BBC “an executive-run place for idiots”.

The Absolutely Fabulous star said the Corporation was no longer a fun place to work and was “unrecognisable” as the place where she and comedy partner Dawn French started work 20 years ago.

She said she wanted to shout obscenities at a former director-general, who she did not name, for spending licence fee-payers’ money on lunches at the Ivy rather than TV programmes.

Speaking to Glamour magazine to promote her autobiography, Bonkers: My Life in Laughs, to be published next week, Saunders, 55, said: “It’s become top-heavy in such an ugly way. They went corporate instead of being what they should be, which is a national resource, a place which trains people and curates the best programmes, and encourages talent and does great news and journalism.

“They just became a corporate, executive-run place for idiots.

“I mean, what are these titles? How is Alan Yentob still allowed in the building? There are questions that need to be answered!”

She added: “You were called into these special lunches with the director-general at The Ivy and you were like: ‘F*** off! This is the licence payers’ money! And I’d like an extra bit of budget on my programme please!’”

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