Gordon Brown: 'BBC 6 Music Must Be Saved'

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Prime Minister Gordon Brown has backed a campaign to save digital music station BBC 6 Music.

The station, which features such DJs as Jarvis Cocker and Lauren Laverne, has been outlined for closure by the BBC as part of wide-ranging budget cuts.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Mr Brown said 6 Music was necessary for Britain to be a “creative society”.

"[I] think, personally, that the BBC should not have succumbed to pressure to cut certain things – but they have," he said.

When asked whether he would back the campaign to save the station, Mr Brown replied: "Yes because it's the next stage you worry about.

“The Conservatives have said that they'll hive off Radio 1. A lot of things that the BBC does are incredibly creative and quite risky.

“But this is a necessary means of us being a creative society."

Mr Brown, who is currently campaigning ahead of next month's general election, went on to describe the BBC license fee as “essential”.

The campaign to save 6 Music has already attracted the support of a host of musicians, including David Bowie, Lily Allen and Radiohead.

Meanwhile, a report at the weekend suggested the beleaguered station could be renamed in order to prevent its closure.