The man behind some of the BBC’s biggest shows, including Sherlock and Doctor Who, has asked people to imagine what the world would be like without the “insane variety” of the BBC.

TV writer Steven Moffat again voiced his support for the corporation and pointed towards Doctor Who, The Great British Bake Off and “everything David Attenborough’s ever done” as examples of how varied BBC shows are.

He told an audience at the Edinburgh International Television Festival: “There is no other broadcaster so madly varied and so genuinely mad. Can you imagine what the world would be like without all of that insane variety?”

This year's Great British Bake Off contestants
The Great British Bake Off contestants (Mark Bourdillon/BBC)

He added: “I think a very, very small number of people think the BBC is a bad idea, and a huge number of people think the BBC is a wonderful idea.

“Sadly the small number of people are all in Government.”

He prompted laughter from the crowd with that last comment and added that it was “slightly unbalanced”.

The acclaimed Doctor Who writer said: “Let’s be clear, I think it’s fair to say there is only one broadcaster in the whole world that would come up with and transmit it, as a good idea, Doctor Who.”

Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman
Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman star in Doctor Who (Ian West/PA)

Moffat has previously hit out at the Government’s plans for the corporation.

He said the BBC was “a beacon of quality” and described the recent green paper as “wretched” and “wrong”.

The future of the BBC, its funding, and what it should and should not be doing was much discussed during the festival. Culture Secretary John Whittingdale rubbished the idea that the corporation is to be dismantled.

BBC sign
The BBC has been a major topic of discussion (Anthony Devlin/PA)

“I’ve never suggested dismantling the BBC,” he told the festival crowd.

Director of strategy and digital at the BBC, James Purnell, said the corporation welcomed what Mr Whittingdale said, adding: “I think he’s changed the mood around the debate, very much so.”

But Chris Bryant, shadow secretary of state for culture, said during a Question Time session at the festival: “John has been appointed specifically to be the nice guy who wanders around conferences and says look it’s not going to be so bad, it’s all going to be fine. And James Purnell’s bought it. Daft. Ludicrous.”