Executives at a BBC studio are spending more than ?1,000 in licence fee payers money a day on taxis, it has emerged.
The latest bills show the BBC studios in Cardiff - where rejuvenated series Dr Who and Upstairs Downstairs are filmed - spend a fortune on taxi fares for staff and guests.
And BBC chiefs promised "every effort" is being made to cut the cab costs after being reprimanded for the "luxury convenience".
Figures showed the BBC Wales HQ in Cardiff spent ?595,551 on taxis in the 18 months up to November.
That is the equivalent of more than 2,800 licence fees from families paying the ?145.50 annual charge.
The BBC studio said much of the money was spent on taxis for artists and contributors instead of corporation bosses.
BBC bosses have been delighted with drama success at the Cardiff studio - including Dr Who and spin-offs along with the new Upstairs Downstairs and with plans to film Casualty in Wales.
But critics have challenged whether the BBC can justify the huge bill at public expense.
Charlotte Linacre, campaign manager for the Taxpayers Alliance, said too much money was being spent on "luxury convenience".
Miss Linacre said: "This a large bill for licence fee payers to foot.
"Some taxi rides are unavoidable - but too much is being spent on the luxury of convenience while cheaper options are available.
"It's important that public sector organisations work as hard as possible to save money for the taxpayers that have to fund them, especially when families are hard pressed following the recession."
The unfair fares bill was obtained under the Freedom on Information Act after concern about cab charges at the BBC studioes in the leafy suburb of Llandaff, Cardiff - more than three miles outside the city centre of the Welsh capital.
A BBC spokesman said: "In 2009 to 2010 BBC Wales produced more than 1,500 hours of television programming and nearly 14,000 hours of radio with a total turnover of ?150m.
"Transport costs are an inevitable consequence of these business activities, with around half of this spend incurred to transport guests, artists and contributors.
"However, every effort is made to minimise the level of such costs. This included use of a centralised booking system which enables us to monitor taxi use and negotiated better deals with suppliers."
The latest bills show the BBC studios in Cardiff - where rejuvenated series Dr Who and Upstairs Downstairs are filmed - spend a fortune on taxi fares for staff and guests.
And BBC chiefs promised "every effort" is being made to cut the cab costs after being reprimanded for the "luxury convenience".
Figures showed the BBC Wales HQ in Cardiff spent ?595,551 on taxis in the 18 months up to November.
That is the equivalent of more than 2,800 licence fees from families paying the ?145.50 annual charge.
The BBC studio said much of the money was spent on taxis for artists and contributors instead of corporation bosses.
BBC bosses have been delighted with drama success at the Cardiff studio - including Dr Who and spin-offs along with the new Upstairs Downstairs and with plans to film Casualty in Wales.
But critics have challenged whether the BBC can justify the huge bill at public expense.
Charlotte Linacre, campaign manager for the Taxpayers Alliance, said too much money was being spent on "luxury convenience".
Miss Linacre said: "This a large bill for licence fee payers to foot.
"Some taxi rides are unavoidable - but too much is being spent on the luxury of convenience while cheaper options are available.
"It's important that public sector organisations work as hard as possible to save money for the taxpayers that have to fund them, especially when families are hard pressed following the recession."
The unfair fares bill was obtained under the Freedom on Information Act after concern about cab charges at the BBC studioes in the leafy suburb of Llandaff, Cardiff - more than three miles outside the city centre of the Welsh capital.
A BBC spokesman said: "In 2009 to 2010 BBC Wales produced more than 1,500 hours of television programming and nearly 14,000 hours of radio with a total turnover of ?150m.
"Transport costs are an inevitable consequence of these business activities, with around half of this spend incurred to transport guests, artists and contributors.
"However, every effort is made to minimise the level of such costs. This included use of a centralised booking system which enables us to monitor taxi use and negotiated better deals with suppliers."
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