BBC cash curbs ground Dr Who
- Publication: The Daily Telegraph
- Date: 1985-02-28
- Author: Harvey Lee
- Page:
- Language: English
DR WHO'S flying telephone' kiosk was grounded yesterday for 18 months by the B B C, which says it cannot afford the £100.000 cost of each 50-minute episode of the Time Lord's adventures.
When the present series 'ends next month, the Tardis will not materialise again before autumn next year — the longest break in its. 22-year galactic wanderings.
Filming of the next adventures had been due to begin this spring.
But the BBC's money problems threaten to achieve what the Daleks never did — the ex-ter-min-ation of the Doctor.
Mr Bill Cotton, managing director of BBC Television, said : "The BBC has to live within its income. We are anxious to keep up the high standard of the production, and after considering a number of production options we decided we could not maintain every project."
Mr Michael Grade, the new Controller of B B C-1, whose decision to take "Dallas" off B B C screens was dropped after uproar from soap opera fans, ordered Dr Who down to earth to save cash while other new drama programmes are made.
'Propaganda coup'
He now faces a reacton from fans of the show—it is seen by 110 million views in 54 countries—every bit as angry as that of the "Dallas" devotees.
Which, according to Patrick Troughton, the second of the six actors who have played the Doctor—and who is reappearing in the current episode is exactly what the- corporation wants.
With a Time Lord's perspicacity he detects a propaganda coup to support the Corporatian's call for a higher licence fee.
"It is possible the B B C is hoping there will be a ublic outcry about the series being too expensive for their resources. "I would have thought most people will put two and two together and realise what is in the minds of the B B C executives," he said.
Colin Baker, the current Doctor, said: "I am contracted to the series, but the B B C will probably have to pay off a lot of other people. It doesn't seem good financial sense to take it off."
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- APA 6th ed.: Lee, Harvey (1985-02-28). BBC cash curbs ground Dr Who. The Daily Telegraph .
- MLA 7th ed.: Lee, Harvey. "BBC cash curbs ground Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph [add city] 1985-02-28. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Lee, Harvey. "BBC cash curbs ground Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph, edition, sec., 1985-02-28
- Turabian: Lee, Harvey. "BBC cash curbs ground Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph, 1985-02-28, section, edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=BBC cash curbs ground Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/BBC_cash_curbs_ground_Dr_Who | work=The Daily Telegraph | pages= | date=1985-02-28 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=26 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=BBC cash curbs ground Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/BBC_cash_curbs_ground_Dr_Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=26 March 2025}}</ref>
