Melvyn Bragg gives his name to BBC campaign encouraging over 75s to opt in to the licence fee
Melvyn Bragg is the first celebrity to offer his services to a rumoured BBC campaign urging pensioners to continue contributing their licence fee after the government drops the mandatory fee for over 75s.
The long-time broadcaster told the Times that he is “fully prepared to be part of a properly organised [BBC] campaign”.
The corporation is reportedly devising a strategy as to how to best ask the over 75s for donations. As a result, the BBC is reportedly looking to tap Helen Mirren, Terry Wogan, Michael Parkinson and Melvyn Bragg for a campaign encouraging the elderly to pay the fee, which currently sits at £145.50 a year.
It comes after chancellor George Osborne last year announced that over 75s would no longer have to pay their license fees from 2020.
The decision has reportedly left a £700m gap in the public broadcaster’s funding.