The former MP turned television personality was responding to BSC criticism of his daytime discussion programme Kilroy, which the commission branded "victim entertainment".

The BBC's Torin Douglas: "He rejects that Kilroy is 'confessional television'"

Speaking before the Broadcasting Press Guild, Mr Kilroy-Silk also made the surprise announcement that he has been considering a return to politics by running for Mayor of London as an independent candidate.

The presenter, who has hosted Kilroy for 13 years, said the BSC's budget would be better spent on "630 hip operations or 345 heart bypass operations".

He said the commission's attitude was patronising to the hundreds of guests who took part in his show and wanted to share their experiences with the viewing audience.

'Focus of opposition'

He rejected the charge that he produced "confessional television".

Mr Kilroy-Silk went on to tell the guild that he had held discussions and commissioned focus groups to establish whether or not it was feasible for him to run for mayor of London.

He said he believed it was one of the few political appointments in the UK in which an independent candidate could be elected and that whoever got the job would become a focus of opposition to Prime Minister Tony Blair.