Russell T Davies: "Kids' TV needs money urgently"

The writer of Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, Russell T Davies has spoken out about the urgent need for more funding for children's programming.

Davies delivered a passionate speech on why kids' television is so important at a special BAFTA event on Tuesday evening, jointly organised by the BAFTA Children's Committee and Showcomotion.

He hit out at the 'demonising' of children, saying it lead to them being low on the agenda when it came to funding.

"Children's TV has all but disappeared from ITV, literally vanished from the schedules, and it's not coming back any time soon," he said. "We need to embrace what the BBC has. Something massive needs to be done - children's programming needs more money and it needs to urgently."

Davies asked why if the Lottery could put money into British films, why couldn't some lottery money be put into children's television.

"Nothing is more important than our children," Davies stated. "It is not nostalgic to remember something that was brilliant. It is remembering something that you loved. TV formats that have faded can be rebooted - just look at Doctor Who and the talent show, for example."

Davies also spoke about how he believed the move to Manchester for the BBC children's team would be "magnificent".