Boris Johnson has ordered his aides to launch an urgent review into decriminalising the BBC license fee in the wake of his election triumph.

The move, which is bound to trigger a showdown with the corporation, comes as Downing Street has decided to impose an effective boycott of Radio 4's flagship news programme over allegations of pro-Remain bias.

The Telegraph understands that Downing Street is preparing to launch a formal consultation on whether television viewers should face prosecution for failing to pay the £154.50 annual cost for watching live television or iPlayer, the broadcaster's catch-up service.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a former board member of the official Vote Leave campaign, who is now a defence minister, was being tipped as a possible new Culture Secretary on Saturday night.