Wolf Hall director launches blistering attack on government's treatment of BBC during Bafta speech

The director of award-winning TV drama Wolf Hall has launched a blistering attack on the government's treatment of the BBC.

Peter Kosminsky accused the government of trying to "eviscerate" the BBC and Channel 4 as he called on public to "stand up and fight" for the public broadcasters.

He received a standing ovation for his speech which he made as he accepted the Bafta TV Award for best drama series.

Peter Kosminsky (second left) with the cast of the hit show. Credit: PA Wire

He compared government proposals as similar to the "bastions of democracy Russia and North Korea".

"This is really scary stuff folks, not something I thought I'd see in my lifetime in this country," he said.

Kosminsky's speech gained a lot of attention on Twitter.

When asked by ITV News for a reaction to the director's speech, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it would not be commenting until the release of a white paper on the broadcaster's future this week.