Candid Caller

AMID the ballyhoo of changing ITV franchise-holders, another new television company has crept quietly on air: the Birt Broadcasting Corporation. This week the Candid Caller asked: what would you do if you were in charge of the BBC?

John Birt of Uddingston, Glasgow: 'I'd stop all the repeats. We get an abysmal amount now. I'd commission more new programmes. I'd also bring in advertising to hold or even reduce the licence fee.'

John Birt of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire: 'I like the current affairs stuff and documentaries, especially the natural history programmes, but I'd cut out a lot of the dross that the BBC broadcasts today.'

John Birt of Stafford: 'I'd cut down on all the local stations. I'd then spend the money saved on better- quality programmes, like the classical serials that used to be on Sundays. I listen to Radio 4 in the morning; it's a good programme on the whole. When you watch or listen to the hourly news bulletins throughout the day and night, they become just a series of muggings, murders and more bad news. For the Current Affairs department, I'd call for less emphasis on the downside of news and a bit more optimism occasionally.'

John Birt of Dean, Gloucestershire: 'I enjoy a lot of the sport from the BBC and would fight the satellite stations over the monopoly they hold on some coverage. It's wildly unfair that people who can't afford to buy Sky must miss out; I've been robbed of my cricket. I'd also consider advertising to subsidise the cost of the BBC.'

John Birt's wife, Kim, of Rayleigh, Essex: 'I'd like to see more serious drama; television's becoming too frivolous. I listen to the plays on Radio 4 and my husband listens to Radio 1. I'd like to see the money channelled into better-quality programmes. The BBC has got to specialise in making great programmes again, rather than pander to the mass audience.'

John Birt of Cheltenham: 'I wouldn't make many changes. I think the BBC is by far the best television and radio network we've got. My pet hate is the Australian soaps, but my children love them and it's easy enough to avoid Neighbours. I don't think advertising on Radio 1 would do any harm, but I wouldn't want to see it on BBC television. I think the licence fee is expensive, but if the BBC made itself more efficient, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more. I often get my leg pulled about my name, and sharing it with the BBC Director-General isn't the first time: my initials are J R]'

John Birt of Dorchester, Dorset: 'It's not a job I'd ever want. I watch a lot of television, particularly sport. As long as they have plenty of sport on, I don't care.'