Entertainment
Krishnan Guru-Murthy slams mystery Tory MP who ‘cancelled moments before Channel 4 interview’ after backlash to privatisation plansCharlotte Manning
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Channel 4 news host Krishnan Guru-Murthy has revealed no Tory MP would appear on the programme after Nadine Dorries announced plans to privatise the broadcaster.
Earlier this month, it was revealed the UK Government were set to draw up plans to sell off Channel 4 to ensure long-term funding.
The broadcaster has been publicly owned since it was founded in 1982 and is funded entirely by advertising.
There was immediate backlash from fans of the channel as well as famous faces, after being confirmed by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.
However, C4 news host Guru-Murthy has now confirmed appearances from Tory MPs were cancelled on the day the news came out.
Speaking on Twitter, he told followers: ‘On the day govt formally announce Channel 4 privatisation they have refused #C4News requests for an interview and no Tory MPs approached will do it either.
Krishnan said one Tory MP cancelled moments before (Picture: Getty)
‘We were just about to interview one and he cancelled moments before. Do they really want to ‘unleash potential’?’
In reference to Dorries, he added: ‘Culture Ministers must be super confident they know best when C4 bosses, the TV production industry, the consultation and voter opinion polls are all against privatisation.
Dorries blamed ‘dyslexia’ for her mix-up (Picture: DR Luke Evans MP/TikTok)
‘So it is very strange they won’t answer questions about it.’
It comes after a car-crash viral TikTok video showed Dorries label tennis courts as ‘pitches’ and spoke about ‘downstreaming’ movies.
Many other Channel 4 stars have spoken out against the plans to sell, including Derry Girls’ Nicola Coughlan, Russell T. Davies and Kirstie Allsopp.
Over 400,000 have been vocal by signing a fan-led petition, calling for the plans to be halted.
The petition currently has an aim of reaching 500,000 signatures, stating in its description that ‘Channel 4 is responsible for some of the very best programming on UK TV’, and ‘Channel 4 News is one of the most trusted news programmes at a time when disinformation is rife’.
‘To privatise Channel 4 would seriously undermine programming aimed at all the communities, across generations, that make up this country,’ it said.
‘The government has no right to move ahead with a plan that is not in the interest of the viewing public.’
A privatised Channel 4 would prioritise profits over making diverse content for audiences, as well as ending the broadcaster’s reliance on independent production companies to create programmes.
More: Channel 4
In a tweet, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said that she wanted the broadcaster to remain a ‘cherished place in British life’, but felt that government ownership was ‘holding Channel 4 back from competing against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon’.
She added: ‘I will seek to reinvest the proceeds of the sale into levelling up the creative sector, putting money into independent production and creative skills in priority parts of the country – delivering a creative dividend for all.’
Channel 4 news airs weeknights from 7pm on Channel 4.
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