‘Don’t scrap Holby City!’: Devastated viewer’s online petition to save soap reaches more than 26,000 signatures after BBC announce plans to axe drama following 23 years on air
- BBC announced medical drama Holby City would be scrapped after 23 years
- Former star said cast were ‘taken aback’ by decision with six months notice
- Believed the programme was at odds with the corporation’s ‘Across the UK’ plan
- Set to be replaced by new soaps in northern England and in another nation
- BBC insisted they will make sure the programme goes out ‘on a high’ in 2022
A Save Holby City petition has received more than 26,000 signatures from distraught fans begging the BBC not to cancel the medical drama.
Desperate long-term viewers launched the online petition after the broadcaster announced on Wednesday the soap would end following 23 years on air.
Started on Change.org, the appeal was organised by a fan who said the show brings ‘stories of real people across society, from all backgrounds and experiences’.
Cancelled: A Save Holby City petition has received more than 26,000 signatures from distraught fans begging the BBC not to cancel the medical drama
They wrote in full: ‘Holby City has millions of weekly viewers, and has won hundreds of awards.
‘It is also one of the most diverse dramas on the BBC – bringing stories of real people across society, from all backgrounds and experiences.
‘The combination of permanent characters and single episode characters offers a huge range of storylines, highlighting important issues and experiences in medicine and society. The show has raised awareness about so many issues of value to the public – whether that’s mental health, bereavement, exploring faith or sexuality.
Upset: Viewers launched the online petition after the broadcaster announced on Wednesday the soap would end following 23 years on air (pictured Sacha Levy played by Bob Barrett
Don’t scrap Holby City! Started on Change.org, the appeal was organised by a fan who said the show brings ‘stories of real people across society, from all backgrounds and experiences’
Save our soap! Started on Change.org, the appeal was organised by a fan who said the show brings ‘stories of real people across society, from all backgrounds and experiences.’
‘If like me and my family, you care so much about this program please share and sign this petition.
‘The pandemic has shown how highly the public value the NHS, and Holby City is an important representation of the work that the NHS does, and the issues the NHS and its staff and patients face.’
At the time of writing the petition has reached more than 26,000 signatures out of its 35,000 goal.
Viewers took to the comment section to explain their reasons for urging the BBC to not take the medical drama off air.
One wrote: ‘Great programmes and story lines. Ditch Casualty instead, not nearly as good.’
‘My favourite show’: Viewers took to the comment section to explain their reasons for urging the BBC to not take the medical drama off air
Another fan of the show typed: ‘This programme is the only reason I pay my TV license, so BBC, you can do one now!!!’.
A third chimed: ‘I have watched Holby since the first day it was broadcast, through all the different wards and am very sorry that I will have nothing to look forward to every week. Could they not try going to a different ward or unit again?’
A fourth viewer added: ‘This is my favourite show along with Casualty. If it goes BBC LOOSE ME TOO’.
Big fan base: At the time of writing the petition has reached more than 26,000 signatures out of its 35,000 goal
The programme is now at odds with the BBC’s ‘Across the UK’ plan to move TV shows and staff out of London to kill off the idea of a so-called ‘southern bias’.
With three big soaps set in the south – the others being Eastenders and Casualty – Holby City was seen as the easiest to scrap as Casualty’s Cardiff base helped to fulfill the diversity directive.
The costs of producing Holby City will instead be used to fund two replacement soaps in the next three years; one set in northern England and another in either Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
But the announcement left dedication fans of the soap furious, calling the move ‘short-sighted’ and warning the diverse cast and storylines were going to be lost.
Pulling the plug: The BBC will scrap Holby City next year after 23 years as it continues its drive to appear more northern, sparking a furious backlash among fans
Premiere: The show – which airs weekly on BBC One – launched on January 12, 1999, as a spin-off from fellow BBC medical drama Casualty, which began in September 1986 [the original cast is pictured]
Move: With three big soaps set in the south – Eastenders and Casualty – Holby City was seen as the easiest to scrap as Casualty’s Cardiff base helped to fulfill the diversity directive
‘I find the BBC axing Holby City so they can have a soap in the north ridiculously misguided,’ wrote one fan.
They added that the north of England already has three of the country’s biggest soaps with Hollyoaks, set in Chester, Coronation Street in Manchester, and Emmerdale in Yorkshire.
They added: ‘To make out that representation is part of the decision when you are now leaving only one soap in the south is so hypocritical.’
Tobias Oliver added that Holby City already has big diversity credentials ‘championing the NHS, a show that had a history of strong roles for LGBT and BAME actors and could reflect all corners of the UK through challenging storylines.’
Annoyed: But the announcement left dedication fans of the soap furious, calling the move ‘short-sighted’ and warning that the diverse cast and storylines were going to be lost
It comes as a former veteran star of the show said the cast and crew had been left ‘reeling’ from the announcement which effectively gave them six months’ notice they were losing their jobs.
Hugh Quarshie, who played consultant Ric Griffin for 19 years, said he was ‘taken aback’ by the news.
‘My understanding is they only found out an hour before released to the press – so no one saw this coming,’ he told The Guardian.
Shocked: Hugh Quarshie, who played consultant Ric Griffin for 19 years on the soap, said he was ‘taken aback’ by the news and that the cast and crew members had ‘not seen it coming’
Quarshie added that he was not sure if the show’s runners have considered turning the soap into ‘more like ER rather than Doctors’, but suggested they could have moved the production to the same studio as Casualty instead of scrapping it.
The BBC said in a statement: ‘We are incredibly proud of Holby City. But it’s with great sadness that we are announcing that after 23 years, the show will end on screen in March of next year.
‘We sometimes have to make difficult decisions to make room for new opportunities and as part of the BBC’s commitment to make more programmes across the UK.
It’s been cut! The BBC insisted they will make sure the programme goes out ‘on a high’ [pictured Ramin Karimloo as Dr Kian Madani]
‘We have taken the difficult decision to bring the show to a close in order to reshape the BBC’s drama slate to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country.
‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing team at BBC Studios and all the cast and crew who have been involved in the show since 1999.
‘Holby has been a stalwart with audiences, delighting millions of viewers each week and winning hundreds of awards with a compelling mix of cutting-edge medical stories and explosive personal stories.’
The BBC insisted they will make sure the programme goes out ‘on a high’.
‘Difficult decision’: The network have slated the medical drama to come to a conclusion on screen in March next year [pictured is a cast shot from 1999]
The BBC said in a statement: ‘We are incredibly proud of Holby City’ [pictured are stars Jules Knight and Joe McFadden]
The show featured big names in British TV across its run, such as Phyllis Logan, Lisa Faulkner, Angela Griffin, Nicola Stephenson, and Michael French.
And the likes of Adrian Edmondson, Patsy Kensit, Jane Asher, Sheridan Smith, Phill Jupitus, Johnny Briggs, Suzanne Shaw, and Anita Dobson have also guest-starred in the show over the years.
Star Joe McFadden, who played Raf di Lucca in the programme from 2014 to 2017, sent his well wishes to the cast and crew in wake of the news.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Such sad news about the end of #HolbyCity – it kept so many people in work for so long. My thoughts are with friends in the cast and crew. (sic)’
Cast: The show featured big names in British TV, such as Angela Griffin [L] and Lisa Faulkner [R]
George Rainsford – who plays Ethan Hardy in sister show Casualty – tweeted: ‘Thinking of our wonderful friends at our sister show #HolbyCity today. Filming all year round on a long-running drama attracts a particular type of person.
‘Dedicated, talented, excellent at problem-solving & an upbeat, self-deprecating humour. Heartbreaking for everyone involved. (sic)’
Former EastEnders actor Nitin Ganatra praised the show as well, posting: ‘Sad to see the end of a monumental and magnificent show like @BBCHolbyCity Big shame.
‘Thoughts go out to all the cast, crew and production team on the show. Will see you on another set no doubt. #staypositive #holbycity HOLBY CITY -WE LOVE YOU!!! (sic)’
His former co-star Davood Ghadami joined the cast of Holby earlier this year as Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Eli Ebrahimi, after his EastEnders character Kush Kazemi was killed off; and he praised the show for being ‘a great big family, not a workplace’.
‘I’ve only had the privilege of being part of @BBCHolbyCity for a couple of months but its already very clear that its a great big family not a workplace. It will be sorely missed. Lets go out with a bang #Holby (sic),’ he penned.
Holby City has been nominated for over 100 awards, of which it has won six. The series has received five BAFTA nominations, winning on one of these occasions.
The show – which airs weekly on BBC One – launched on January 12, 1999, as a spin-off from fellow BBC medical drama Casualty, which began in September 1986.
Casualty, which exists in the same world as Holby City, remains on the air. It is the longest-running medical drama series in the world.
Guest star: John Barrowman appeared on the show in 2020
Source: Read Full Article
