British culture makes people of faith feel “embarrassed” about their religion, a BBC television presenter has said.

As he departs his role as a presenter of The Breakfast Show after 15 years, Bill Turnbull told The Radio Times that he prefers the religious freedom enjoyed in the United States where people do not “have to apologise for being religious”.

“When we lived in America it was the exception not to go to church. Church was absolutely packed and it was wonderful.

“But here there’s something about our culture that makes people feel as if they have to apologise for having faith…There you don’t have to apologise for being religious. I don’t know why people want to make you feel so awkward about having belief. I don’t understand it”.

Meanwhile, Turnbull’s successor on The Breakfast Show, Dan Walker, is has previously spoken candidly about his own faith and the fact that he will not work on Sundays as it is the Sabbath. This is an element specifically written in to his BBC contract.

“Observing the Lord’s day is a great privilege and brings with it loads of blessings,” he has said.

Walker’s stance has garnered media comment in Britain, prompting one journalist to point out: “Had he been a Jew and not prepared to work on a Saturday, or a Muslim reserving Fridays for the mosque, there wouldn’t have been much fuss.”