This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/7704742.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
BBC 'must have creative courage' BBC 'must have creative courage'
(about 2 hours later)
The BBC must continue to be "brave and creative", its Director General Mark Thompson has said.The BBC must continue to be "brave and creative", its Director General Mark Thompson has said.
He said the public would not expect the BBC to "transform and neuter" their favourite programmes in the wake of the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand row.He said the public would not expect the BBC to "transform and neuter" their favourite programmes in the wake of the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand row.
"We take the business of not offending the public very seriously but we have duties of creativity as well," he said."We take the business of not offending the public very seriously but we have duties of creativity as well," he said.
Brand has resigned from Radio 2 and Ross has been suspended after making lewd prank calls to actor Andrew Sachs.Brand has resigned from Radio 2 and Ross has been suspended after making lewd prank calls to actor Andrew Sachs.
The BBC has been embroiled in controversy after the pair made obscene comments about Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie on Brand's Radio 2 show.The BBC has been embroiled in controversy after the pair made obscene comments about Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie on Brand's Radio 2 show.
'Within limits''Within limits'
Mr Thompson told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme that the row must not stop the BBC making creative programmes. Mr Thompson told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme: "The public wants the BBC to have high editorial standards, but at the same time they want exciting, original programming."
"The public wants the BBC to have high editorial standards, but at the same time they want exciting, original programming," he said.
He said the BBC must have the courage to take creative risks but "within limits".He said the BBC must have the courage to take creative risks but "within limits".
He also denied a story in the Sunday Telegraph that the Conservatives are planning to cut the licence fee after the prank phone call controversy. It is probably the case that we will be able to secure the best entertainment talent for less than we have been able to do in the last few years Mark Thompson
"I got a phone call from a senior member of the shadow cabinet last night to tell me that the story is not Conservative policy, and the story certainly didn't come from any of them, as it were."
Mr Thompson was quizzed about the length of time it took the corporation to react to the row and future payments to its big stars.
He also defended BBC directors' salaries, including his own, which several Sunday newspapers have highlighted.He also defended BBC directors' salaries, including his own, which several Sunday newspapers have highlighted.
The News of the World criticised the salaries paid to the BBC's top management. Its Freedom of Information inquiry showed 50 executives were paid more than the prime minister's salary of £189,994.
Mr Thompson said he was paid "significantly less" than his opposite numbers at ITV and Channel 4, as were on-air presenters and other senior executives.
"Of course compared to many people's average pay they seem very substantial, but the public also want the controller of BBC1 to be the best possible person for that job," he said.
Retrenchment period
Jonathan Ross's £6m a year pay deal has always been controversial but following the phone row the salaries paid to big stars is back under the spotlight.
Mr Thompson said the public wanted "outstanding entertainment" and the "best talent", but owing to the current economic climate, the corporation was heading towards a period of "retrenchment".
"I think we are heading towards a period where it is probably the case that we will be able to secure the best entertainment talent for less than we have been able to do in the last few years," he said.
He also said he hoped Ross would return to the BBC after the 12-week suspension.
Mr Thompson also dismissed a story in the Sunday Telegraph that the Conservatives are planning to cut the licence fee after the prank phone call controversy.
"I got a phone call from a senior member of the shadow cabinet last night to tell me that the story is not Conservative policy, and the story certainly didn't come from any of them, as it were," he said.
Mr Thompson was quizzed about the speed at which the BBC reacted to the row.
"Within three days we had essentially got to the bottom of what happened," he said.
"I would hope the public would feel that, given the level of outrage, the speed at which fundamental action was taken, compared to most British institutions, was quick and pretty responsive."