THE POPULAR Dr Who series is being shelved by the BBC in a move which many see as a ruse to force an increase in TV licence fees.
Fans of the long-running space series were already mounting a campaign last night to save it and a group in America said they would pay for a new series themselves.
Michael Grade, the new chief of BBC1, says he is dropping the saga for at least 18 months to save cash for other drama productions.
But his decision comes just s month before the next series was due to go into production and which the BBC Is pushing the Government to increase its licence fe from £46 to g65.
The police box time traveller has been a television favourite for years and there have been six cast changes.
Patrick Troughton, the second Dr Who, said last night : "It is possible that the BBC is hoping there will be a public outcry about the series being too expensive for its resources.'
The present Doctor, actor Colin Baker, whose assistant is played by Nicola Bryant, said he was "completely astonished" by the move. The current series ends next month.
Caption: Dr Who Colin Baker and assistant Nicola Bryant
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