View source for Fight for the Time Lord

{{article
| publication = Daily Star
| file = 1985-03-01 Daily Star.jpg
| px = 600
| height = 
| width = 200
| date = 1985-03-01
| author = Geoff Baker and Pat Codd
| pages = 1
| language = English 
| type = 
| description = 
| categories = Hiatus
| moreTitles = 
| morePublications = 
| moreDates = 
| text = 
SAVE Doctor Who! That's the Daily Star's message today.

And it has the backing of countless -- fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

They are furious that the BBC is to drop the Timelord for 18 months — especially as the show is a moneyspinner.

And	enthusiasts from America and Britain have turned  to us to plead "Please help."

For they know that the Daily Star gets results. We campaigned to keep Bergerac and Worzel Gummidge. And we won.

In America fans have mobilised a nationwide letters campaign to protest at the BBC's shelving of the much-loved programme, which has run for 22 years. "I wouldn't be surprised if 100,000 letters are sent to the BBC," said Gayle Bennett, president of the North American Time Festival which co-ordinates all Doctor Who fan clubs in the States.

The BBC is dropping the Doctor because of the cost — £100,000 per show. But the Americans say "We'll pay."

Ron Katz, president of the 40,000-strong Doctor Who Fan Club of America has said they' will raise five million dollars to fund the show.

Already £1.5 million has been pledged after fan club officials worked throught the night.

A BBC spokesman said last night: "Of course we will consider such an offer if it is serious."

Meanwhile, British fans are seething, too.

"We are not going to take this lying down," said Ian Levine, a leading member of the British fan club.

The BBC is considering defusing the protests by re-running old shows. But that won't satisfy Ian.	

"Dr. Who must be kept fresh," he said.

Cheapest 

None of the fans can understand why the BBC want to axe a show that brings in £1.5 million a year.

It is sold to 54 countries around the world and has spawned 104 Doctor Who books. And the £100,000 bill for an episode makes it the cheapest drama made at the BBC.

The average cost is around £200,000 and really big productions can Cost a great deal more.

Miami Vice, which the BBC has bought from America, costs one million dollars an episode.

Colin Baker, the current Doctor Who, said last night the decision to "rest" the series came as "a great personal blow."

But he has been submerged by messages of support.

The show is "one of the BBC's greatest traditions" he added. 


Spelling correction: Gail Bennett
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