The BBC has been blasted as “entitled” over plans to increase the licence fee from £159 to £169 a year.
The rise in fee is less than critics had predicted but comes with harsh penalties should watchers refuse to pay, including the possibility of jail.
Speaking to Peter Andre and Ellie Costello on GB News, broadcaster Esther Stanhope compared the BBC to a “spoiled child”.
She said: “I worked there for 10 years so I'm what you would call a staffer which is a bit like a lifer in jail and you get if you're a staff at the BBC, it means you get the pension you get all that kind of stuff.
Ellie Costello and Peter Andre discuss BBC Licence fee
GB News
“There's a lot of people that work at the BBC. I think the BBC is a bit like a child that's entitled to money.
“It's been getting all this free money and now because it's always had free money it wants to carry on having money.
“I think that we should be given a choice. I mean we're in a different world now. There are thousands of channels. You don't have to watch adverts if you don't want to.
“I don't really think the BBC can justify putting people in jail if they don't pay. I believe in choice.”
