nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken) (03/05/85)
Appearing on the front page of the Guradian, 28 February, 1985:
_BBC enters a time warp_
By Stephen Cook
The controller of BBC1, Mr Micheal Grade, may well be longing by this
morning to step into the Tardis and whisk himself beyond the range of the
outcry stirred up by his decision yesterday to postpone the next series of
Dr Who.
Work on the new series, originally scheduled for January next year
and starring Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant, was due to start in a month's
time.
But Mr Grade has decided that the money would be better spent on
other drama projects and that the Doctor must be shelved until the autumn
of 1986.
The Dr Who Appreciation Society, mouthpiece for the show's 110 million
watchers in 54 countries, is furious. Mr Peter Haining, author of a book on
Dr Who's 22-year history, said the move was disgraceful and horrifying and must
be stopped.
"What other programme could change the central actor and his character
and still hold a magic grip over each new generation?" he asked. "Dr Who is
unique. There will be a tremendous outcry to save it."
Mr Haining recalled that Mr Grade's last controversial decision --
to interrupt the current run of Dallas so as to spoil commercial television's
plans for the next run of the soap opera -- had been reversed by a public
outcry, and he predicted a repeat performance.
The BBC denied that the decision was a ploy to persuade the Government
that it does need a L65 (65 pound) licence fee in order to give the public
what it wants.
"It's a natural suspicion," said one source. "But some people think
it could have exactly the opposite effect.
"Dr Who almost certainly does earn far more through sales than it costs
to make, but it has to be made out of the drama budget, and sales go into the
BBC's general coffers. The drama budget this year was not big enough to do
everything."
A decision to switch Dr Who from Saturday to mid-week was reversed by
public pressure last year, but a campaign failed in 1980 to save the doctor's
dog, K9 -- despite support from the World Wildlife Fund.
** end of arcticle **
I have heard that the BBC has backed down, however I will not accept that
until I see it in (reputable) writing.
The BBC received 160,000 calls to complain about that decision in the first
day.
To send your letters of complaint, the address of the BBC television centre
is:
BBC-Television Centre,
7, Wood Lane,
London W12 7RJ
England.
The appropriate names are:
Mr. Micheal Grade, Comptroller of BBC1
Mr. Alastair Milne, Director General of the BBC
Mr. Stuart Young, Chairman of the BBC.
Other people to write:
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
10, Downing Street,
London SW1
In your letters, be polite. Point out that the BBC (and Britain) get a flow
of money into the country that more than makes up the cost of the show.
Do not put "Doctor Who" or the like on the outside of the envelope. It will
then be routed to the Doctor Who Production Office at the same address.
Do not send petitions. Each induvidual letter counts. It would be better to
have people sign an induvidual form letter and post them.
Go to it!
Perhaps I best include a disclaimer: My employer is not responsible for
my actions with respect to my favourite television show. This posting
is entirely of my own accord. I hope that the "Guardian" doesn't mind:-)
--
James C Armstrong, Jnr. { ihnp4 || allegra || mcnc || cbosgb } !abnji!jca
"Emotion is a weakness!"
"I don't think so"
"It brought you back for your friend and it will cost you your life!"