Prime Minister Boris Johnson wielded the axe on his cabinet on Wednesday afternoon, with former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson one of the most high profile casualties. However, it is the BBC that could potentially be one of the big losers from the huge shake-up in Whitehall.

       Ms Dorries, who replaced Oliver Dowden as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has previously been an outspoken critic of the BBC.

       The MP for Mid Bedfordshire is yet to outline her vision for the BBC following her appointment, but in 2014 she backed calls to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee and said the broadcaster was “outdated”.

       In a blog, she added: “Such a structure of payment and aggressive persecution would be more in keeping in a Soviet-style country.”

       In a post on Twitter, Ms Dorries accused the BBC of being a “biased Left-wing organisation”.

       The 64-year-old also has a strong view on the so-called cancel culture that has emerged in recent years.

       In 2017, she tweeted: “Left wing snowflakes are killing comedy, tearing down historic statues, removing books from universities, dumbing down panto."

       The appointment of Ms Dorries comes at a critical time for the BBC and ahead of the BBC’s Charter Renewal in 2027.

       Ministers are currently working on a report over the future funding of the broadcaster amid pressure from some groups for a Netflix-style subscription service.

       Last year, the BBC faced a fierce backlash over its decision to scrap free TV licences for the over-75s who do not receive pension credit.

       More than three million over-75s are now subject to the ￡159 annual fee.

       BBC director-general Tim Davie has said he has not yet spoken to new Culture Secretary, who has become the 10th person in the last 10 years to hold the position.

       Mr Davie added he was ready for “grown-up dialogue with Government” over the BBC.

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       He said: "We are yet to make contact but I'm really looking forward to meeting her."

       The BBC chief added: "I think it's too early to make too many conclusions.

       "We need a really serious, grown-up dialogue with Government, it's an incredibly important topic.

       "There will always be a bit of theatre but we will sit down and have a proper dialogue around the BBC, and I look forward to it."

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       Speaking at the RTS Cambridge Convention 2021 on Wednesday, Mr Davie also played down previous comments made by Ms Dorries about the BBC which have resurfaced.

       He said: "I wouldn't get too distracted by it; it's all about sitting down with the ministers and the teams and really getting into it, I'm not distracted by it.

       "I think we have got a strong case for investment in the BBC."