Ray Winstone: BBC needs to 'rethink' drama funding
27/01/2010 - 12:23
Ray Winstone says the BBC needs to 'rethink' its funding for British drama.
"We had a place for Britain which was making great British TV," the actor explained on the red carpet in Hollywood where he was premiering his new movie Edge of Darkness alongside Mel Gibson.
The thriller is based on an original BBC mini-series from the 1980s, but Ray suggested the Beeb wasn't investing in drama like it used to.
"We were spoilt for riches at the time," he argued.
"We don't [produce that as much now] and it was a teaching school - great directors, great writers, great actors came out of the BBC.
"The BBC is not that any more and maybe it needs to rethink that and go back to that because that's where all the class came from."
Despite making millions in Hollywood, Ray says he'd never turn down working on British TV.
"I go back and do BBC now, I do British TV now. If the script is good enough I'll do it, of course", he said.
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