Monty Don fumes Channel 4 is being 'flogged off unnecessarily'

express.co.uk:

Monty Don, 66, has denounced the sale of Channel 4, which is valued at more than £1billion.The Gardeners’ World star took to Twitter, where he boasts 254,000 followers, to share his views on the controversy.Monty, who has worked for the broadcaster before, said it should be “treasured” instead of being “flogged off”.He penned: “I worked for Channel Four at the end of the nineties and early noughties and we made superb gardening programmes I am very proud to have been part of.“It should be treasured for what it is, not flogged off unnecessarily.”Monty’s remarks sparked debate among other social media users, who replied to his tweet stating their stances.Bazz1955 said: “People don't like change, one door closes another opens….”Hardywilf argued: “Problem is when that door could lead to less independence editorially from the Government.”Willfhamilton typed: “'Flogged off'.

Channel 4 is being released into the free market.”Stevescientific tweeted: “Unfortunately the standards have plummeted since then Monty.”The decision to sell Channel 4 marks the first significant privatisation since Royal Mail was sold in 2013.Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has told Prime Minister Boris Johnson a private-sector takeover of the channel was the only way to guarantee its growth in a digital market dominated by the likes of Netflix and Disney+.The change will be included in a draft media bill to be announced in the Queen’s Speech on May 10.Whitehall insiders expect the sale to take place late next year.They also expect it to be completed before the general election due in spring 2024.Nadine Dorries addressed the latest announcement in a string of tweets shared yesterday with her 121,000 followers.She tweeted: “Channel 4 rightly holds a.