The letter below has been delivered to the Prime Minister, making the case for a strong BBC. As some of the signatories are BBC 'stars', their signature could cynically be seen as self-serving. I am not involved with the BBC, I am a member of the public, the same public that the government is elected to represent and I feel very much the same.

There was plenty of scope for reform in the BBC and I was all for that, but I feel like there are strategic changes being made by this government that are setting this great British institution up to fail.

Don't be remembered as the Prime Minister that allowed such a major part of British identity across the globe to become a shadow of its former self.

I, with no financial gain, co-sign the letter below.

-------

The Prime Minister David Cameron

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

Dear Prime Minister,

We have seen that the Government has pledged to modernise the licence fee, return funding that had been diverted to pay for broadband roll-out, and increase the licence fee in line with inflation in return for the BBC taking on the costs of Licence Fees for the over 75's.

The Government and the BBC are now entering the Charter Review. We are writing to place on record at the very start of the process our concern that nothing should be done to diminish the BBC or turn it into a narrowly focused market-failure broadcaster.

In our view, a diminished BBC would simply mean a diminished Britain.

The BBC is a very precious institution. Like all organisations, it has its faults but it is overwhelmingly a creative force for good.

Britain's creative economy is growing and enjoying unprecedented success. The BBC is at the heart of this as the global showcase for our creative industries. The BBC is trusted and loved at home by British audiences and is the envy of the world abroad.

During the course of the Charter, we will continue to make the case for a strong BBC at the centre of British life and will be vocal in making the case for the BBC as it approaches its centenary.

Yours Sincerely

Clara Amfo, David Attenborough, Clare Balding, Melvyn Bragg, Brian Cox, Daniel Craig, Richard Curtis, Judi Dench, Chris Evans, Stephen Fry, Nick Grimshaw, Miranda Hart, Lenny Henry, Gary Lineker, Michael McIntyre, Steven Moffatt, Trevor Nelson, Annie Nightingale, Graham Norton, Jamie Oliver, Michael Palin, Adil Ray, JK Rowling, Mark Rylance, Simon Schama, David Walliams, Rachel Weisz, Claudia Winkleman, Reggie Yates