The next announcement about the BBC TV licence fee "will be the last", the Culture Secretary has said, amid reports it will be frozen for the next two years.
Nadine Dorries indicated that the annual payment, which normally changes on April 1 each year, is expected to be kept at the current rate of £159 until April 2024. She took to social media to say that she wanted to find a new funding model for the BBC after the current licence fee funding deal expires in 2027.
If the licence fee cost was not frozen and rose in line with inflation - currently at 5.1% - the total annual fee would be £167 from April.
Ms Dorries wrote on Twitter: "This licence fee announcement will be the last.
"The days of the elderly being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on doors are over.
"Time now to discuss and debate new ways of funding, supporting and selling great British content."
The BBC TV licence fee is set by the UK Government, which announced in 2016 that it would rise in line with inflation for five years from April 1 2017.
The BBC has previously come under fire over the abolition of free TV licences for all over-75s, with a grace period on payment because of the Covid-19 pandemic having ended on July 31.
Only those who receive Pension Credit do not have to pay the annual fee, while people who are registered blind receive a 50 per cent discount.
A BBC source told the Sunday Times: "There are very good reasons for investing in what the BBC can do for the British public and the creative industries, and the (profile of the) UK around the world.
"Anything less than inflation would put unacceptable pressure on the BBC finances after years of cuts."
Broadcaster Dan Walker took to Twitter to defend the BBC licence fee, saying it's "43p per day".
The BBC Breakfast host, who appeared in Strictly Come Dancing 2021, shared an image on Twitter of the different BBC TV and radio channels alongside the caption "43p per day".
In a later tweet, Walker, 44 clarified: "I am well aware that the BBC makes mistakes and needs to change, but the media landscape would be much poorer without it.
"Those three letters are trusted and respected around the world."
A host of famous faces, including the sports broadcaster Gary Lineker and the comedian Nish Kumar, have also shown solidarity with the corporation after Ms Dorries’ comments.
Similarly, former England football star Lineker retweeted an image from the BBC press office that shows the content viewers get when they pay the licence fee.
The 61-year-old later wrote: "Yes the BBC brings you the best in news, in sport, in drama, in music, in children's, in science, in history, in entertainment, in current affairs and Sir David bloody Attenborough....but apart from that what has the BBC ever done for us?"
He later retweeted a video from the 1986 TV licence advert "what has the BBC ever done for us", adding: "The BBC is revered, respected and envied around the world.
"It should be the most treasured of national treasures. Something true patriots of our country should be proud of.
"It should never be a voice for those in Government, whoever is in power."
The comedian Nish Kumar, 36, also tweeted: "I know that it feels like absolutely everyone hates the BBC right now, and there are good reasons for that, but ending the licence fee is bad news."
The writer, producer and director Armando Iannucci also commented on Twitter to respond to Ms Dorries.
Over several tweets, Mr Iannucci, 58, said: "I think it's more likely to be your last rather than the BBC's.
"First you come for @channel4 because you don't like its reporting of events.
"Now you come for the BBC because you don't like its reporting of events.
"Have you ever considered whether it's the events themselves that are the problem?”
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