BBC had 'collective nervous breakdown' over Brexit Julian Knight tells GB News

Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Tory MP Julian Knight has said that the BBC was "contemptuous" of listeners and viewers during the handling of Brexit.

He added that they had a “collective nervous breakdown” over Brexit and were not in touch with the public “at all”. This, he claims showed a cultural disconnect between the broadcaster and consumers.

Speaking with GB News’ on The Afternoon Briefing with Gloria De Piero, the MP labelled the BBC a “bipolar organisation” with a core focus on London and Manchester. He added they covered “very little in between” and ‘were a “very middle class institution”.

Offering solutions, he said the organisation "culturally, listen a lot more than they do" and consider the funding model when looking at their long-term picture.

It comes as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries hit out at the BBC during an event at the Conservative Party conference.

Ms Dorries highlighted a series of issues she had with the broadcaster, including a lack of working-class diversity and perceived political bias.

“It’s about recognising that access and lack of impartiality are part of your problem".

She said there was a “groupthink” at the corporation which “excludes working-class backgrounds

“North West, North East, Yorkshire – if you have got a regional accent in the BBC it doesn’t go down particularly well

“They talk about lots to do with diversity but they don’t talk about kids from working-class backgrounds and that’s got to change.”

Watch the interview in full on GB News today at 12:30, on Freeview 236, Sky HD 515, Virgin Media HD 626, YouView 236, Freesat HD 216, on the app and online.