London, May 2 : One of the BBC's longest-serving presenters, Sir David Attenborough, has criticised the broadcaster for allowing lifestyle shows to "run rampant".

"Do we really require so many gardening programmes, makeover programmes or celebrity chefs?" he asked.

Attenborough appealed for programmes about science or serious music or in-depth interviews.

The presenter was giving a speech about public service broadcasting in London.

He singled out the BBC's long-running science show Tomorrow's World as a "very inventive programme", and said the demise of such strands was "sad".

However, he paid tribute to the "pioneering" work of the BBC's natural history unit, based in Bristol.

"It is a prime example of what public service broadcasting can achieve," he said.

Sir David was controller of BBC Two for four years until 1969, before spending three years as director of programmes across both BBC One and BBC Two.

He said a publicly funded broadcaster should "cater for the broadest possible range of interests" and measure success "not only by its audience size but by the range of its schedule".

At its best, he acknowledged the BBC achieved these aims.

"But I have to say that there are moments when I wonder," he added.

Attenborough's lecture was part of a series organised by the BBC to debate Ofcom's review of public service broadcasting. (ANI)