The BBC's decision last week to axe free TV licences for many over-75s was met with howls of protest across the nation. It led to our sister paper, the Daily Express, launching a crusade for the BBC to reverse the decision. The campaign was backed by Dame Esther Rantzen, 78, who argued TV is a "necessity not a luxury" for many lonely OAPs. Former Strictly judge Len Goodman, 75, former Monty Python star Sir Michael Palin, 76, and ex-Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter, 86, also backed this campaign.
By Friday more than 32,000 readers had signed a coupon in the paper and delivered to the BBC's headquarters in London.
Now 503,250 have signed the online petition Switched Off: Save Free TV For Older People, hosted on Age UK's website and calling on the Government to take back responsibility. And more than 162,000 have signed another petition on Parliament's website calling for a debate.
Currently 3.7 million elderly viewers receive a free TV licence worth £154.50 a year. But from 2020 the BBC will means-test free TV licences as part of the licence fee settlement in 2015. Only 1.5 million who are claim ing Pension Credit - available to single pensioners who are on less than £167.25 a week or couples on £255.25 - will be eligible. But 650,000
