Producer and Bafta winner Colin Callender has won a Golden Globe for the BBC series Wolf Hall, and used his acceptance speech to urge David Cameron to save the broadcaster.
Mr Callender, who received the award on Sunday night, said: "I urge David Cameron and the British government to do everything they can to protect the BBC”, referring to proposed plans by the Conservative government to slash funding to the broadcasting company.
His comments received cheers and some bafflement among American viewers.
The TV and film producer was knighted earlier this year.