Critics of the BBC have the 'British disease', says Brian Cox

BBC defender Professor Brian Cox (PA)

Scientist turned broadcaster Professor Brian Cox yesterday accused critics of the BBC of having "the British disease".

Professor Cox, who appeared in the BBC's highly praised Wonders of the Universe and Wonders of the Solar System series, defended the corporation during a Q&A session at Edinburgh's International Television Festival.

"One of the things that surprises me about the debate about the BBC is, here is an institution that is clearly a big global brand, a powerful global brand, recognised as the best in the world in many areas. And what the British disease is, is to even consider damaging that institution."

Two years ago, James Murdoch made the keynote MacTaggart lecture at the festival, describing the BBC's size and ambitions as "chilling" and accusing it of mounting a "land grab" in a beleaguered media market.

Professor Cox explained how the success of his BBC science programmes had brought him public recognition and changed his life. "That is what my life is now – explaining thermodynamics to people in pubs, – not drinking, which is what it used to be."

Despite defending the Beeb, he said he would love to work for ITV. "I'd love ITV to do more science programming. You can get prime-time-level audiences with science programmes."

The success of Cox's Wonders programmes is credited in part with the rise of numbers of students studying physics and astronomy. He stressed the importance of the sciences to Britain, pointing out that "6.7 per cent of UK GDP comes from science. That's more than the finance sector!"

Echoing Google boss Eric Schmidt's criticism of the neglect of science and engineering in Britain, Professor Cox said: "Science has to be centre-stage in our culture. It can't be marginalised. The BBC can do it, and, hopefully, other broadcasters."