A campaign to rescue Autumnwatch has over 100,000 signatures after the BBC discontinued the yearly show.
More money will instead be put in its sibling programmes, Springwatch and Winterwatch, albeit the latter will only be returning for one week next year, down from two.
A statement from the broadcaster last week read: ‘These are challenging times financially and we need to make difficult decisions and focus our resources on content that has the highest impact.
‘Sadly, this means that Autumnwatch will not be continuing. Instead, we are investing more money into Springwatch and Winterwatch, as they are most popular with audiences.
‘We are incredibly proud of the Watches and would like to thank the presenters and production team who will continue on Springwatch when it returns in May for three weeks, and Winterwatch when it returns next year for one week, reduced from two weeks.’
However, supporters are trying to rescue the beloved show, with 92,492 signatures on a Change.org petition at the time of writing.
Marion Veal, who started the petition, said: ‘Thousands of UK TV licence payers enjoy the “Watches”, Springwatch, Autumwatch and Winterwatch.
‘It’s what we pay our licence fee for. It is an example of what the BBC does best.
‘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 popular wildlife series tracked changes in nature throughout fall, watching animals and plants in real time and providing live broadcasts online for viewers to have a closer look at nature.
The camera teams, who were joined by presenters such as Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan, and Gillian Burke, travelled around the UK, documenting never-before-seen animal behaviour and presenting remarkable wildlife stories.
Commenting on the petition, fan Beverley Cattermole said: ‘It would be a backward step to cancel Autumnwatch and makes no sense: it’s an integral part of the 3 “Watches”.’
Lynsey Nash added: ‘This program is just as good as Spring and Winter watch,’ while viewer Charlotte Mellors highlighted the show’s benefit to viewers, saying: ‘I think it is underestimated how much shows like this help thousands of people with their mental health. The world is a scary, sad and sometimes frankly depressing place & shows like this bring some light in the darkness, as well as educating the public and connecting them with wildlife and nature.’
Springwatch premiered in 2005, followed by a one-off special Autumnwatch, before becoming a full-fledged series in 2006. Winterwatch was launched in 2012.
Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said the end of Autumnwatch offered an opportunity for the BBC to ‘rebalance its wildlife programming’.
He added: ‘The BBC covers many rural issues well and produces lots of good countryside content, but there have been concerns about Autumnwatch’s unrealistic and anthropomorphic approach for many years.
‘It won’t be missed in the countryside.’
The petition can be found at: https://www.change.org/p/save-autumnwatch
Autumnwatch is available on BBC iPlayer.