Sir Terry Wogan has been scaling back his BBC commitments

Terry Wogan has hit out at BBC bosses accusing them of lacking 'old-fashioned thoroughness and commitment'.

The broadcasting veteran added that executives were now more concerned about their pay packets than the prestige of working for a world-renowned public service broadcaster.

In an interview with Radio Times to mark his 70th birthday, Wogan recalled his first contact with the BBC as an aspiring broadcaster.

'When I sent my first tape to the Head of Gramophone Programmes at the BBC, I had made the fatal mistake of forgetting to rewind it to the start.

'Yet that gentleman took the time to wind it all the way back, and once he'd listened to it, things went from there,' he said.

'I can tell you if I was a young chap coming over from Ireland today, they probably wouldn't even listen to my tape, let alone rewind it.

'Somehow, that old-fashioned thoroughness and commitment have now disappeared.'

Now one of the corporation's highest-paid stars earning in excess of £800,000 - or £25.64 per minute of airtime - for his Radio 2 show, Wogan insisted that money should not be the driving force when working for the broadcaster.

It is not the first time he has been outspoken in his criticism of his paymasters.

In 2005, he launched a withering attack on the relentless diet of makeover and reality shows.

Wogan has been scaling back his commitments to the BBC in recent months. Earlier this year he stood down from his role presenting Points of View. This is now hosted by Jeremy Vine.

There has been speculation that he will retire from his breakfast show when his contract ends next year.

He has also said he intends to quit hosting The Eurovision Song Contest, held this year in Belgrade, for which he is paid £150,000 a year.

Infuriated by the political voting at this year's event, he says he is unlikely to front the programme again.

'I was considering giving up before Belgrade, and now I have to say I am very doubtful about ever wanting to do Eurovision again.

'I think it is time for someone else to take over.'

As the Daily Mail exclusively revealed earlier this year, the star is taking over the Channel 4 teatime slot from Richard & Judy.

He is fronting a new general knowledge quiz show, Wogan's Total Recall, which starts next week.

ITV has been attacked by the broadcasting watchdog for failing to protect children from a show which saw contestants enter spinning washing machines, eat glass and turn into a human dartboard.

The World's Got Talent, a spin-off from Britain's Got Talent, was broadcast on ITV1 before the watershed, at 7pm in April, and two months later on digital sister channel ITV2 at the same time.

Viewers complained that children watching the show might emulate the activities of the performers from around the world.

As well as featuring a man who climbed into a giant washing machine and rotated inside as it operated, the programme showed a performer setting himself on fire.