March 1st 2023.
A petition to keep Autumnwatch alive has now gained over 152,667 signatures, after the BBC declared that it would be cancelling the seasonal programme and instead investing more funds into Springwatch and Winterwatch. Winterwatch has also been cut to one week. Marion Veal, the 61-year-old science teacher who started the petition, spoke to The Agency about how much the show’s cancellation has meant to her, and her frustration with the BBC's decision to ignore her emails. Marion expressed that the show is family friendly and provides a source of escape from the 'gloomy times' for people who suffer from mental health problems and those who are bed-bound. She also spoke of her disbelief that the BBC would claim they are trying to save costs whilst airing programmes like Cara Delevingne's Planet Sex and game shows with £50,000 prizes, saying it felt as though the BBC was trying to attract a younger audience and ignoring the people who pay the license fee.
A petition to conserve Autumnwatch has acquired more than 150,000 signatures, after the seasonal programme was cancelled by the BBC.
This month, the broadcaster declared that more funds will be put into its sister programmes, Springwatch and Winterwatch, with the latter returning for just one week next year, decreased from two.
However, admirers of the show are eager to bring it back, with a petition started by Marion Veal having attained 152,667 signatures at the time of writing.
Now, Marion, 61, has opened up regarding how much it means to her that the cherished programme has been cancelled, and her annoyance at the BBC neglecting her emails.
Speaking exclusively to The Agency, the science teacher said: ‘When I began [the petition], I never thought we’d get there, I just needed to give people a place to have a voice, and express their opinion, since when Autumnwatch was cancelled, it was a shock to all of us who really love it.
‘We didn’t feel that anyone had asked – just a decision was made.’
She added that the show will be particularly missed for its ‘family-friendly’ character, stating: ‘It’s for all ages, you don’t have to know anything about wildlife, because they will explain it to you’.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) The news follows Chris revealing his plans on taking a break from TV
Our last mindful moment. The beauty of catkins.
Relax. And thank you for watching Winterwatch ♡♪♡♪♡♪♡♪
We’ll see you in Spring ♡♫♡♫♡♫♡♫#Winterwatch âš¡ï¸âš¡ï¸âš¡ï¸âš¡ï¸
Marion proceeded to talk about the significance of the programme in ‘gloomy times’, explaining: ‘We know that lots of people suffer with their mental health and get seasonally affected,’ while also highlighting those who are ‘bed bound’ and unable to go outside themselves to enjoy nature.
Discussing how announcement of Autumnwatch being cancelled included the fact that it was based on financial decisions, she continued: ‘That very evening, when I was attempting to find something to watch, there was Cara Delevingne and Planet Sex, and there was one of the gameshows that had a £50,000 prize, and I thought, “Hang on a second, how can you say you’re trying to save money, when there’s all these not-family-friendly programmes.”
‘It just felt as though the BBC, from my point of view, is attempting to win back a younger audience, that it feels has gone to Netflix and Prime.
‘Whereas the people that are actually paying the licence fee don’t appear to matter.’
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) Winterwatch has also been cut to one week
Marion also said she’d emailed BBC boss Tim Davie ‘four times’ but hadn’t yet received a response.
‘It makes you think they don’t care,’ she continued, before confessing how ‘frustrated’ and ‘ignored’ she felt.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk)
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk)
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