Lord McNally says the BBC must educate and inform

"But that does not mean the BBC should not continue its well-established tradition of serious political coverage," he said.

The BBC New Politics Initiative, led by Sian Kevill, wants to bring new programme ideas to TV screens by the end of the year.

Teams developing new ideas for BBC political coverage will focus on uniting different parts of the BBC to tackle politics.

It hopes to appeal to the under-45s, and will use drama and online services.

Ms Kevill has said: "We want to refresh political coverage with innovative and creative new thinking."

The BBC's approach for the future was backed in the debate by Labour peer Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen.

"There are new ideas for a new political programme designed to appeal to the under-45s," she said.

Interactive services were also being developed to explore how to attract audiences to political debate, she said.

Drama dimension

Conservative peer Baroness Anelay of St Johns said the review of political programmes had "stirred up passions on the issue".

Dramas such as a UK version of US series the West Wing would be welcome, she said - but would be no substitute for informative political programmes.

Lady Anelay complained Panorama had been "shunted into the graveyard slot on Sunday evenings" and was worried that other programmes might not continue.

Liberal Democrat Lord McNally welcomed the BBC's internal review but said the corporation would only win "friends in the battles ahead" by fulfilling its duty to educate and inform.

But he also pointed to new initiatives that were bearing fruit.

Europe worries

"BBC Online had 25 million hits during the general election," he said. "That is a most impressive use of new technology."

The Lords debate on Monday night was triggered by Conservative peer Lord Pearson of Ranoch, who said new research had shown that the BBC gave little coverage to those advocating withdrawal from the European Union.

Former Tory Chancellor Lord Lamont said the BBC was not deliberately biased - but sometimes "mindlessly" followed conventional thinking, including on Europe.

But Lord Lipsey, himself a Eurosceptic, said Lord Pearson's concern was not about impartiality, but because the BBC did not share his views on Europe.