View source for It must be incredibly infuriating for television executives when programmes of which they long to get rid are lumbered with poor viewing figures

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| publication = The Stage and Television Today
| file = 1990-11-22 Stage and Television Today.jpg
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| date = 1990-11-22
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| pages = 22
| language = English 
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| categories = viewing figures
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IT MUST be incredibly infuriating for television executives when programmes of which they long to get rid are lumbered with poor viewing figures - for whatever reason - but succeed in attracting a fanatical following among a number of people.

Witness Australian soap Prisoner - Cell Block H: when Central Television once tried to cut its weekly transmissions from three to two, there was an outcry so loud among fans that the Midlands broadcaster was forced to reinstate the dropped third edition.

But devotees of some programmes do not always meet with this type of response to their demands, as angry fans of sci-fi drama Dr. Who (last portrayed by SYLVESTER McCOY, above) will testify.

For a variety of reasons, one of which is presumably the 27 year-old series' poor ratings last autumn, the BBC decided to put Who on ice. Earlier this year it emerged that it was highly likely that the programme would be put out to an independent producer, with a decision expected this spring

However, a wall of silence from Auntie has prompted furious Whovians (or should that be Whoettes?) to organise a day of protest on November 30, when they propose to bombard such executives as managing director Paul Fox, director-general Michael Checkland and drama chief Mark Shivas with telephone requests.

It has been estimated that if each fan makes 20 calls, the BBC will receive 500,000 phone calls in one day.

Now, while it strikes Television Diary that the Doctor's devotees might well have a valid point as viewers, we're not altogether sure that this phone attack on Auntie's switchboard will solve much, and will more likely than not irritate a lot of personal assistants, rather than penetrate the grey matter of the relevant bigwigs.

A sitdown protest in front of Television Centre, perhaps? Blocking Wood Lane with model Daleks? The opportunities to do something inventive are certainly there .. But as it is, it seems the only beneficiary of these fans' well-intended protests will be British Telecom!

Still, whatever the Beeb might think of Dr. Who, viewers are viewers ... and BBC1 would be foolish to turn its nose up at them in the current broadcasting climate. Maybe there's hope yet. 

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