Petition to save BBC's Autumnwatch after 2023 cancellation

The BBC cancelled its Autumnwatch programme, which had regularly been based in Norfolk, at the start of February due to "challenging times financially".

Fans saddened by the news have signed a petition, started by Marion Veal, and it has reached 153,096 signatures at the time of writing.

The wildlife series, which features Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan among its presenters, charts the fortunes of British wildlife during the season and airs on BBC Two.

West Norfolk has been the home of the Watch programmes several times, including Autumnwatch in 2022, at Wild Ken Hill estate.

The show broadcast 48 live shows from Wild Ken Hill under the Autumn, Spring and Winterwatch banners over the last three years.

The BBC said the show would not take place in 2023 and beyond as it seeks to "focus" its resources on content that has "the highest impact", directing more money into sister programmes Springwatch and Winterwatch.

A statement said: "These are challenging times financially and we need to make difficult decisions and focus our resources on content that has the highest impact.

Setting up the petition, Ms Veal, 61, said: "In an age when the natural world faces its greatest threat, when British species are on the red list and threatened with extinction, when we are recognising the value of the natural world for our mental health, it is beyond belief to learn that Autumnwatch has been cancelled."

The series began in 2005, with the success of Springwatch prompting the BBC to commission a one-off special of Autumnwatch, which became a full series in 2006.

Winterwatch began in 2012.

The BBC has delivered more than £1bn of savings in the five years to 2021/22.

It needs to save a further £285m in response to the announcement in January 2022 that the licence fee will be frozen for the next two years.