Rural champ slams BBC's 'addiction to celebrities'

THE BBC is "addicted" to celebrity and needs presenters who understand the Britain that exists beyond the big cities, rural campaigners say.

- David Williamson

Attacking the broadcaster's record on impartiality, the Countryside Alliance said it must stop hiring only "typical urban graduates", as "rural voices still struggle to be heard".

In a submission to the BBC, the group sets out concerns surrounding its treatment of footballer turned top-earning pundit Gary Lineker.

He was briefly taken off air as a presenter of Match of the Day in 2023 after comparing the Conservative government to Nazis in relation to their "immeasurably cruel" asylum policy in a tweet.

However, he returned following a walkout by fellow presenters and commentators in solidarity.