Doctor Who Cast and Crew At #SaveTheBBC Protest

Simon Mills is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

The poor beleagured BBC needs all the allies it can find these days with the government seemingly intent on tearing down this national treasure by saddling it with ever increasing costs – making the BBC foot the bill for the free licenses for the over-75s, for one thing, which will severely impact the BBCs budget and, therefore, their ability to produce quality dramas.

It is with this in mind, that a dedicated number of Doctor Who fans and personalities from the show took to the streets on 23rd November 2015 (the date sounds familiar – I wonder if it has any significance?) to show their support for the BBC and the wonderful programmes it produces. Programmes such as this one about our favourite Time Lord, Great British Bake Off, Strictly Come Dancing and other such hugely popular fare. Programmes that are under threat of being shipped out to commercial producers if the government gets its way.

Great to hear @sophie_aldred @bertiecarvel @PeterDavison5 & more #BackTheBBC today.

https://t.co/p5eD2c8hA3 pic.twitter.com/yR4OZEDx4c

— Love Your BBC (@LoveYourBBC) November 23, 2015

Been Campaigning to save the BBC the best TV in the world with @sophie_aldred Peter Davidson & more pic.twitter.com/Q54yQswCUN

— KatyManning Official (@ManningOfficial) November 23, 2015

All write to your local mp @Robotmeile @sophie_aldred 40p a day for the best tv in the world! Xxx

— KatyManning Official (@ManningOfficial) November 23, 2015

Love It or Lose It protest outside BBC Broadcasting House 2 pic.twitter.com/5Qy54ziVgU

— OnTheTimeLashPodcast (@OnTheTimeLash) November 23, 2015

The purpose of the demo was, of course, to raise awareness and to join together in a resounding chorus of “Not on my watch!” lead by such luminous figures as Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison, former companions Sophie Aldred (Ace) and Katy Manning (Jo Grant), production staff from the past such as June Hudson (yes, that one – the one who designed Tom Baker’s iconic Fourth Doctor outfit) and many others. They all voiced their support for the BBC, citing the corporations top quality world-renowned dramas and news coverage.

Inspirational words this lunchtime from #DoctorWho cast members outside Broadcasting House! #SavetheBBC @bectu pic.twitter.com/TS1hOftXdf

— Ian McArdell (@IanMcArdell) November 23, 2015

Peter Davison summed it up best:

“It’s very easy, as with the National Health Service, to take things for granted. The BBC pumps an amazing amount of entertainment into our homes for an amazingly small amount of money. It’s the cost of a good cup of coffee from one of our finer tax-avoiding coffee shops on the high street. If the government wants to take away popular programming, and I understand that’s what they want to do, then they undermine popular support for the BBC. And what’s going to happen to these popular programmes? Presumably someone else is going to make them and they will charge us £35 a week to watch them. We have to protect the BBC … this is something really, really precious. And once it’s gone it’s gone forever, it’s not coming back.”

Great big THANKYOU all those loyal fans who turned out today to support the BBC Love it or lose it campaign. Good way to celebrate Who Day

— Sophie Aldred (@sophie_aldred) November 23, 2015

If you want to help save the BBC, there is a petition you can sign right here.

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