Cameron raps 'bloated' BBC salaries

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In an article for The Sun, he raised the prospect of cutting back the activities of the corporation which he said "had become oversized and overreached".

The detailed criticism came after last week's furore over abusive calls made by high-paid stars Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.

Mr Cameron said he was a fan of the BBC and approved of the way it was funded, but he warned: "The BBC has lost touch with the values of the people who support it through the licence fee.

"How could anyone who works at an organisation that prides itself as socially responsible possibly have approved broadcasting the sick telephone calls made by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand?

"It has become bloated, with many of its executives overpaid."

The Tory leader said Ross's £6 million annual contract cost the equivalent of 43,000 licence fees.

"Is it really the job of the BBC to pay these sorts of figures?" he asked. "Shouldn't they rely on the kudos of the platforms they have - after all there is no real national commercial equivalent to Radio 2 - to attract and keep talent?"

He also singled out the size of the salaries of director general Mark Thompson and other executives.

Mr Cameron said: "Why on earth is the director general paid over £800,000 a year? I simply don't believe these kinds of salaries are necessary to get the best candidates."