11 Things To Love About The BBC

Old Auntie is in serious trouble again with its bosses fighting their way out of another crisis. But despite its critics, the fact remains that most of us couldn't live without it. You can take our jobs, you can take our libraries... but don't touch Dr Who.

1. No adverts!

Yes, the BBC's unique funding arrangement - £145.50 per household per year - means there are no nasty distractions from advertisers hawking soap, dog food, cars or those holiday resorts that don't allow children but no one can afford. BBC presenters and "talent" can't even mention brands or services according to some very strict rules.

2. John Peel. Just John Peel.

The man who saved a thousand bands from obscurity. His shows featured every good band between 1970 and 2004 and a good many that no had heard of before or since. The Beeb sidelined Peel in his later years but no other corporation would allowed him the freedom to play death metal, trance and a live set from the Fall in the same show.

3. David Attenborough

The 87-year-old has been at the BBC since 1952 and produced some its most striking imagery with shows including the Blue Planet. Here he is uncovering a group of orangutans who've figured out how to do DIY:

4. The birth of TV comedy

No BBC? No Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, The Young Ones, Red Dwarf The Office, Mighty Boosh... you name it. (OK, yes, and My Family, but you can't win 'em all).

5. The News

The Beeb employs thousands of journalists around the world - it's one of the biggest news organisations there is.

And you thought your job was tough.

6. Radio 4

Via Radiothings.com / Flickr CC licence

The Archers, Women's Hour, the Shipping Forecast, Today, Test Match Special.... Radio 4 is a simultaneously the most English thing ever and big warm hug in audio format.

7. Dr Who

Malcolm Tucker as the Timelord = good idea? Do Daleks struggle with stairs? The longest running sci-fi series ever is shown in more than 50 countries and makes a shedload of cash for the Beeb.

8. The iPlayer

The best video-on-demand catch-up service there is. You can get the last seven days' of TV and radio on TV, mobile, tablet, games consoles, and probably on toasters and vacuum cleaners soon. In the UK, every single moment of the Olympics was available to watch for free online. Americans had to wait for NBC to broadcast key action later in the day. Sorry Americans.

9. Dreamy science presenters

Those floppy locks. The northern accent. The award-winning, fascinating and intelligent-yet-accessible TV series. Professor Cox is worth the licence fee on its own.

10. Springwatch!

Halfway between guilty pleasure and outright delight, Springwatch is the only programme dedicated to the habits of ducks, voles, badgers, otters and butterlifes. You can't say no to otters.

And don't miss the 80s indie music references along the way....

11. Match of the Day

On air since 1964 (despite a weird gap when highlights rights went to ITV in 2004), MOTD is still a must-watch for football fans, even more so following the depature of its most annoying and cliche-ridden pundit, whose epitaph will be...