Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot - Revision history

John Lavalie: Text replacement - "| categories = Hiatus (1985)" to "| categories = Hiatus"

2019-08-17T00:00:38Z

Text replacement - "| categories = Hiatus (1985)" to "| categories = Hiatus"

John Lavalie: Text replacement - "| categories = 1985 hiatus" to "| categories = Hiatus (1985)"

2019-08-16T23:47:55Z

Text replacement - "| categories = 1985 hiatus" to "| categories = Hiatus (1985)"

John Lavalie: Text replace - "categories = cancellation" to "categories = 1985 hiatus"

2015-04-30T01:58:30Z

Text replace - "categories = cancellation" to "categories = 1985 hiatus"

John Lavalie: Created page with "{{article | publication = The Sun | file = http://cuttingsarchive.org/images/3/3d/1985-02-28_Sun.pdf | px = | height = | width = | date = 1985-02-28 | author = Charles Catchpo..."

2014-01-23T01:19:12Z

Created page with "{{article | publication = The Sun | file = http://cuttingsarchive.org/images/3/3d/1985-02-28_Sun.pdf | px = | height = | width = | date = 1985-02-28 | author = Charles Catchpo..."

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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

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