BBC’s decision to scrap drama Radio 3 called ‘short sighted’ by writers. Thousands of writers and actors have backed a letter written to BBC boss Tim Davie, calling for the broadcasters to rethink plans to axe drama on BBC Radio 3. Since its launch in 1967, BBC Radio 3 has been the home of audio dramas. But having had its time on air dwindle in the years since, the last remaining drama slot on the station - at 8pm on Sunday - is now set to be axed in April.
The decision to remove drama from BBC Radio 3 has sparked despair among creatives and listeners. A letter sent to Tim Davie by The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, The Society of Authors, and union Equity UK described the plans as “short-sighted” and warned that the “complete loss” of Radio 3 drama would be “catastrophic.”.
![[British playwright Jack Thorne took to social media to share his own experiences of radio drama.]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/09/05/12/c3280e29696ff7032c67c43e9fd502d0Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI1NjIwMzEx-2.75714171.jpg)
A petition opposing the move, signed by over 7,000 people, stated: “The removal of Radio 3 drama effectively wipes out the only platform for 90-minute full-length radio plays in the UK, which the BBC has pioneered for years.”. The petition added: “The only beneficiary of these cuts are large commercial US platforms such as Audible, allowing them to keep rates low and ignore the high contractual standards set by the BBC, which are often used as a benchmark within the wider audio drama industry.”.
A BBC spokesperson acknowledged the concerns but said the broadcaster had made the “tough decision” to “sharpen the focus of Radio 3 as a classical music network” in light of “significant financial pressures.” They added that while the Radio 3 drama slot would be axed, more than 200 hours of drama would still air on Radio 4 each year.
