The director of acclaimed period drama Wolf Hall says filming of last year’s second series was nearly called off weeks before it was due to begin because of budget pressures.

Peter Kosminsky told BBC Two’s Newsnight they eventually opted to axe costly exterior scenes in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light, meaning almost everything in the Tudor drama, screened by the BBC, became “conversations in rooms” instead.

He argues public service broadcasters including the BBC and ITV can no longer afford to make high-end British drama.

The Bafta and Golden Globe-winning director is calling for a 5% levy on UK subscription streaming revenues, with the proceeds collected for a British cultural fund.