BBC stalwart Michael Buerk has called the recently axed BBC3 "drivel" despite a high profile battle to save the channel. The corporation announced that the channel will be moving online-only in an effort to save £100m - a decision that Buerk is only too happy to back.

Michael BuerkMichael Buerk Is Glad To See The Back of BBC3

Buerk described BB3's offerings "embarrassing" and described the reality show Snog, Marry, Avoid? as "cutting-edge tripe."

"The BBC had BBC3, a channel much maligned in its lifetime, mourned unconvincingly in its passing, rather like (late Labour politician) Tony Benn," the 68-year-old told the Radio Times.

"It did launch a good few comedies, but a lot of what I saw was at the embarrassing end of drivel. We're told that's where youngsters forage for their entertainment these days, but everybody's still acting as though BBC3 has had a bullet in the back of the head."

Among the celebrities to voice their outage at the demise of BBC3 were comedian Jack Whitehall and Radio 1 DJ Greg James. 

However, the reality is that BBC3 was bad. Nobody watches BBC3. Apart from Gavin & Stacey, its most appealing offerings comprised of a couple of third-rate original shows or Family Guy and American Dad re-runs. Young people don't want Being Human. Young People watch The Wire, Breaking Bad and True Detective. 

Later in his controversial interview, Buerk claimed that many TV presenters "got a job mainly because (they) look nice" and should not "cry ageism" and expect to keep those positions when their physical attractiveness fades.  

More: Famiy Guy and American Dad to disappear with BBC3

More: Does your curry contains cat or dog?