BBC One's Charlotte Moore rejects Trust's claim the channel is not taking enough creative risks
With BBC One not even nominated for Channel of the Year at this year's Edinburgh International Television Festival controller, Charlotte Moore, has vehemently defended the channel's output over the last year, rebuffing claims it plays it too safe.
In conversation with Channel 4's Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Moore said she "didn't agree" with the BBC Trust's comments that the channel is relying on soaps and not taking enough creative risks.
"76 per cent of the population still chose to watch BBC One and we have some much loved shows - Eastenders, Holby, Masterchef, Strictly, Bake Off - that feel like real events in the season," she said.
Pressed by Guru-Murthy on the fact that simply not agreeing with the Trust and its decision to put the channel on "the equivalent of special measures" was not enough, Moore referenced recent drama - Happy Valley - as an example of the creative risks the channel was taking under her leadership.
"I would say there hasn't been anything like Happy Valley on BBC One - it surprised at every turn.
"The thing about BBC One is there has to be a mix, something for everyone but there is a real opportunity to take risk."
Speaking of BBC One's big brands, including Eastenders, Moore said they need to become part of a modern BBC One which she sees as an "ever evolving, ever changing creative place".
Much like Channel 5 controller Ben Frow who spoke earlier in the day, Moore cited entertainment as a challenging area and referred to big Saturday night entertainment shows as the "holy grail".
When questioned on rumours of a Miranda Hart-fronted Generation Game reboot Moore played her cards close to her chest merely revealing she and Hart were "working closely on what a new Generation Game would look like", neither confirming nor denying if it was happening.
With BBC broadcaster John Simpson recently making comments on the organisation's "tough women" and calling it "grotesquely managed", Guru-Murthy asked Moore if she believed the comments made reference to her or those around her, to which she claimed was it "not something I recognised".
Guru-Murthy's decision to ask such a question then criticised by the Edinburgh TV festival delegates for giving precedence to such comments.
Of what she's looking for in the year ahead Moore highlighted concerns that the average age of a BBC One viewer has increased from 56 to 59.
She added that although we "live in an ageing population" it is important to BBC One to reach younger viewers as well as the channel has to be "relevant to everyone", with that relevance also reaching black, Asian and minority ethnic audiences.
"I'm passionate about making sure BBC One reflects modern Britain and all its diversity and that's supported by Tony Hall and Danny Cohen," she remarked.