David Cameron has sought to settle a dispute with equal rights campaigners by insisting that he is a feminist.

The prime minister came in for criticism after declining to apply the term to himself in an interview last week. He told Red magazine: "I don't know what I'd call myself … it's up to others to attach labels. But I believe men and women should be treated equally."

Asked about the issue by Channel 4 News, Cameron said: "When I was asked that question, what I should have said is, if that means equal rights for women, then yes. If that is what you mean by feminist, then yes, I am a feminist."

He also said Breaking Bad was his favourite TV programme, but found it difficult to explain why he loved it. The US show, which came to an end this week, focuses on the life of Walter White, a chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer who becomes a drug baron in order to provide for his family after his death.

Cameron said he thought people found it "strangely alluring" because it was different from what was normally on TV in that everything ends up going wrong for a fundamentally decent person.

Asked why he was a fan, Cameron said: "I think I remember just watching the first episode and you can't believe what is happening; this fundamentally quite decent man who goes so terribly wrong. And it is rather addictive and I can't quite explain."