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Noel Edmonds: 'I won't pay TV licence because of 'threatening' BBC adverts
Last updated at 02:54am on 14.09.08
Noel Edmonds is refusing to pay his television licence fee in protest at 'threatening' BBC adverts promising to catch evaders.
The former Noel's House Party presenter, who was the BBC's main Saturday night host for a decade, said he was prepared to face prosecution for his stand against the Corporation's advertising campaigns.
Edmonds accused the BBC of wanting to 'badger, hector and threaten people' over the £139.50 charge in its commercials and poster adverts, which warn viewers it is 'impossible to hide'.
Noel Edmonds confesses to not having a TV licence live on BBC 1 Breakfast news
The Deal Or No Deal host decided not to renew his licence four months ago and faces a £1,000 fine if prosecuted.
Faced with the snub, TV Licensing, which is responsible for collecting the fee, said it was 'looking into' his case.
Asked if Edmonds was prepared to go to court over his stance, his spokesman Mark Borkowski said: 'Noel has told me he is prepared for the consequences.'
Noel tells Charlie Stayt and Suzanna Reid he cancelled his TV licence and few months ago and is waiting for the TV detector vans to come and get him
Speaking on BBC Breakfast News Edmonds, who made his name at the Corporation as a presenter on Radio 1, said: 'I worked for the BBC for 30 years.
Noel was the BBC's main Saturday night presenter for a decade
'When I was there it promoted the licence fee by saying how wonderful it was. But now Auntie's put boxing gloves on.
'I am not going to have the BBC or any other organisation threatening me. I've cancelled my TV licence and they haven't found me. Nobody's coming knocking on my door.
'There are too many organisations that seem to think it is OK to badger, hector and threaten people.'
Edmonds's comments come after numerous complaints about the advertising campaign.
The four adverts, launched in April, warn viewers: 'Your town, your street, your home - it's all in the database', adding that it is 'impossible to hide' if you don't pay.
Viewers and commentators have compared it to George Orwell's novel 1984.
BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons admitted last week: 'The right balance needs to be struck between ensuring compliance with the law and avoiding any disproportionate heavy-handedness.'
TV Licensing said: 'Anyone caught watching or recording TV without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.'
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Reader views (10)
Totally support Noel. If you go onto BBC5TV there's a whole article (and many other links for research) about the tv licence. Read it - it's an eye opener. Let's all put our money where our mouths are. TV Licensing is a private company and they are making profit out of us - simple. The BBC are commiting treason. Know Your Rights, look up the Bill of Rights act, they CANNOT just fine you because they decide to. Let's stand up for ourselves. I am not going to stand back whilst our country is destroyed by corrupt politicians, untrustworthy corporations and media propaganda. Criminals are manipulating the BBC and are continually feeding us blatant lies and utter RUBBISH on their channels. The government must be shown that the people of this country will no longer stand on the sidelines whilst they exercise their will to dominate and encourage corporations like the BBC to feed us bias, false information. It's time we show our power - the power of the people - in refusing to be part of the corrupt deception and lies.
- Foxy, Bristol, UK
Maybe if we charge the rest of the world for the world service then we could wipe out charges to our own people, why on earth the bbc is not forced to become self financing is beyond me, i fully understand the views of noel edmunds, for any other company to make threatening remarks or adverts for that matter would not be accepted, that is with the exception of the road car tax people,PAY OR WE WILL DESTROY YOUR PROPERTY, nice one, i will try that line with my customers
- A.Gomez-Aspron, Newton-le-willows, merseyside
Well done Noell! I'm disgusted by the threats and bull boy tactics used by TV Licensing even when no offence has been committed. Whatever happened to " innocent until proven guilty"?
- Mario Di Pietro, Halstead UK
TV License should be SCRAPPED.
There are plenty of taxes and levies which are collected and TV license is a tax. The company who just COLLECTS IT employs more than 2000 employees [two thousands]. Now, calculate HOW MUCH IS COST OF COLLECTING THIS TAX. The quoted nbumber is just number of employees in their headquarters - just like in councils they epploy more and more people because they can rip everybody - like with council tax. THIS IS LIKE THEFT IN THE BRIGHT DAY...
- Pm, Leeds
Fantastic-at last someone prepared to launch this long awaited campaign. How the BBC can survive in 2008 is beyond comprehension- pay your TV licence or go to gaol, thats how. Utter disgrace to think that a person can drive a car without insurance and get an average fine of £250 and be fined £1000 for not paying the BBC tax. Its about time the (politically biased) BBC became a basic news service only paid out of general taxation. The public should be allowed to choose their preferred TV service via subscription. Well done Noel. Lets all boycott the TV licence-they can't lock the whole nation in gaol.
- Ian, Cannock, staffordshire
We're being threatened by yobs with "I know where you live".... now we know where that culture stems from.
- S.Bate, Croydon
Great stuff from Noel.
Hes made intelligent statements in regard to an unfair compulsory telly-tax, and continuing erosion of Britain by increasing Asianisation.
He's talking sense (for once lol!)
- John Uk, Tunbridge Wells
well done noel ! its time we stood up to this historical length bullying from the establishment!
i hope this starts to snowball in the media until things change for us ,the people of this country , and change for what we want not what we are told to want !
my farther was in the hungarian uprising in 1956 and before he died he told me he hated the way we were quietly bullied by variouse establishments here in the uk . he said its similar to comunism here only without the tanks rolling in to stop the voice of the people!
- Simon, uk
Good for him, i agree, i could not believe the tactics in the letters sent to my grandmothers house, she even got 1 showing a fake court conviction in her name, i was so angry i have got my liecence at an altered address so they think i dont have 1, i am waiting for them to come to my door. Noel is right... did i say that
- Anon, London
Go Noel...Go Noel...
It's nice to see someone standing up for many without a voice, its just a pity that our government, does not have the initiative to do it.
I applaud your belief and faith that there is still good in our society, and you are very right, we have to start caring, and it should start with the corporations and industries whose are all pockets we are lining. Its about time we got a bit of respect back from them.
I buy my licence out of fear, of that knock on the door, rather than the fact i thinks its of value. Other broadcasters make money without forcefully taking our money, its about time the beeb adapted and stopped being known for its lackluster service and bullying attitude.
Its becoming as much of a farce as most the government departments, expensive and wastefull, only interested in self preservation, ignorant to its audience, all taxed out of us under the pretence of a service.
- Loops, uk
