Johnson: Channel 4 must not lose its confidence

Luke Johnson, Channel 4 chairman, has defended his role and the broadcaster's position in an interview with The Independent today.

Johnson told the publication that the criticism the channel was receiving was its 'turn in the firing line': "In a way perhaps it was our turn because, for a long period, ITV were heavily criticised and before that, over Hutton and so forth, the BBC came in for various bits of criticism."

Following the recent attention Channel 4 has received, the chairman said Channel 4 must ensure it "doesn't lose its confidence, doesn't get intimidated and we carry on questioning, being quirky, a little bit difficult occasionally, making programmes that stir it up," adding: "If we fail to do that then you begin to wonder what Channel 4 is for."

Of his interview on Radio 4's Today programme during the height of the CBB race row, where Johnson was originally asked on to discuss the BBC licence and would not comment on the controversy, he admitted to having been "complacent", saying: "I suppose the lesson is listen to the overnight news about Gordon Brown being in India before you appear at 6am half asleep on the Today programme and don't entirely trust the BBC when they tell you that they don't want to talk about a topic and then bring it up."