Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot

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• Publication: The Sun
• Date: 1985-02-28
• Author: Charles Catchpole
• Page: 1
• Language: English

DOCTOR Who was axed by the BBC last might ... and furious fans claimed it was a plot to back up demands for a higher licence fee.

TV bosses say they cannot afford to make any new shows about the famous time-traveller for 18 months.

But even the BBC's own men see the axing of the show—a hit for 22 years—as a cynical bid to whip up support for an increase in the fee.

DECISION

One official said: "This is absolute madness. Doctor Who is getting around nine million viewers.

"There's a strong feeling that the high-ups are using it as part of their propaganda campaign."

Actor Colin Baker. who plays the Doctor, said: "I was staggered. We were all geared up to start work on the next series."

And sexy Nicola Bryant—his assistant Peri—was said to be "very surprised and clearly upset."

Colin said: "I am contracted to the series, but the decision will mean the BBC probably having to pay off a lot of other people. It doesn't seem good financial sense."

Patrick Troughton, 64, who was Dr Who in the Sixties, said: I think it is just power politics at work. I'm sure the viewers will make their feelings known."

BBC 1 supremo Michael Grade claimed: "We intend to make a lot of new drama, and we cannot afford to do that and Doctor Who."

But Beeb insiders say each episode of the sci-fi serial costs only £180,000—against an average £220,000 for drama.

They claim dumping the Doctor will LOSE the corporation money from sales to 54 other countries. It has a worldwide audience of 110 million viewers.

With just five new episodes left to be shown, fans were launching a massive campaign to save the Doctor last night.

Claim

Jeremy Bentham, cofounder of the Dr Who Appreciation Society, said: "The public won't let it die."

In America, the show's 40,000-strong fan club pledged themselves to raise 1½ million dollars to keep the programme on the air.

The Sun Says—Page 6

Caption: Staggered ... Dr Who stars Colin and Nicola

Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org

• APA 6th ed.: Catchpole, Charles (1985-02-28). Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot. The Sun p. 1.
• MLA 7th ed.: Catchpole, Charles. "Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot." The Sun [add city] 1985-02-28, 1. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: Catchpole, Charles. "Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot." The Sun, edition, sec., 1985-02-28
• Turabian: Catchpole, Charles. "Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot." The Sun, 1985-02-28, section, 1 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr_Who_is_axed_in_a_BBC_plot | work=The Sun | pages=1 | date=1985-02-28 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=19 August 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr_Who_is_axed_in_a_BBC_plot | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=19 August 2025}}</ref>