ACTOR and presenter Tony Robinson has lambasted BBC bosses over controversial plans to move hit drama Casualtyfrom Bristol, its home of more than a quarter of a century, in favour of Cardiff.

The Blackadder star and fervent Bristol City football fan hit out at the BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, at a Federation of Entertainment Unions event at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Robinson, a long-term Bristol resident, asked Mr Thompson: "Why don't you move something out of London rather than take it out of Bristol?

"Why generate a new regionalism by shutting down what you have already got in Whiteladies Road?" he added, referring to the BBC's premises in Bristol.

Mr Thompson defended the proposed move to Cardiff, saying it would lead to the creation of a "drama village" that would be home to programmes including Doctor Who, Torchwood and the BBC's Welsh-language soap Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley).

Medical drama Casualty has been filmed in Bristol for 26 years and is understood to generate £20 million a year for the city. But the show's relocation to Cardiff will go ahead if it provides better value for money. Jana Bennett, head of BBC Vision, gave the clearest signs yet that the popular TV hospital drama would no longer be filmed in the West Country in a keynote speech this month to the Royal Television Society.

Describing the broadcaster's plans to achieve half of all network output outside London by 2016, she said: "Casualty is a key part of our thinking. This series is produced in Bristol but will require new accommodation in the near future and is likely to move.

"Strategically, we believe moving Casualty will play a significant part in fulfilling our commitment to building a creatively and economically sustainable centre of excellence for drama in Wales. However, a final decision will not be taken until we have completed our evaluation of all proposals, which will include having to demonstrate great value for money for the licence fee payer. Given financial approval, we expect to confirm plans early next year."

Under the strategy, which includes plans to move Casualty from Bristol to Cardiff, Crimewatch will also move to Wales, while The Weakest Link and Question Time will shift to Scotland.