Russell T Davies has stuck up for television - saying bosses should defend it from accusations of bad quality and dishonesty.

The acclaimed writer behind the Doctor Who revival said many programmes were good quality and suggested trust problems were exaggerated.

He was primarily referring to the BBC, however, and the interview came before last week's revelations about ITV.

Asked if he though most television was bad, Davies replied: "No. Coronation Street last night? Brilliant. Shameless? Brilliant. The Casualty revamp? Brilliant. The Royle Family special was about as near to perfection as you can get.

"What really f**ks me off is how people in TV have bent over and taken it about the phone-in scandals," he continued. "They should get a spine.

"I know nobody in the BBC who is corrupt. It's just the media crucifying themselves. I think it stems from a sense of TV not being as worthy as theatre, music or any other form of expression. And that comes from it being this everyday thing stuck in the corner."