20 British establishments saved by folks energy – from hit BBC sitcom to Premier League membership
Lee Mack’s brilliant sitcom Not Going Out is celebrating its 20th birthday. So it’s incredible to think the BBC once axed it, back in 2009, after only three series.
Less surprising is how they were forced into a climbdown – by furious fans.
But then you underestimate people power at your peril, as Mike Ward reminds us here with 20 further examples… 1. BBC Radio 6 Music — saved: 2010
A radio station playing decent music? Blimey, no wonder it was earmarked for the chop when budget cuts were needed in 2010. Fortunately, fans refused to accept this tone-deaf proposal. Tens of thousands protested. Even that Bowie fella waded in. 2. St Pancras station — saved: 1967
This Gothic Victorian station was once seen as a monstrosity, as Gothic stuff often is. In 1966, British Rail announced plans to bash most of it down. Campaigner John Betjeman, later to be Poet Laureate, called that a “criminal folly”. St Pancras was granted listed status on November 2, 1967 – 10 days before demolition was due to start.
Cadbury Wispa – a very fine bar(Image: PA)
3. Cadbury Wispa — saved: 2007
Cadbury’s reckoned people had stopped buying Wispa chocolate bars. So it killed them off (the product, not the people) in 2003. This sparked online fury – well, OK, disappointment – with 150,000 Facebook users demanding a U-turn. 4. Bletchley Park — saved: 1992
It was Britain’s wartime codebreaking site, a huge part of our heritage. And what did developers want to do? They wanted to knock it down and build 300 houses and a shopping mall. Luckily, veterans and volunteers teamed up to fight this madness and save the core site. It now houses a museum. 5. Heinz Salad Cream — saved: 1999 and 2018
A bit granny-ish, this stuff, isn’t it? That’s what Heinz had concluded by 1999, as sales kept sliding. Plans to scrap it caused outrage, but by 2018 they figured it at least needed renaming. Suggestions included Sandwich Cream and Fish Finger Sauce. Fat chance. 6. The K6 Red Telephone Box — saved: 1987
After privatisation, BT wanted to scrap thousands of our lovely red kiosks. Heritage groups helped save a good many. You’re unlikely to find a phone in one now, but if it’s a defibrillator you’re after, happy days. 7. Walkers Worcester Sauce crisps — saved: 2024
Scrapped in 2023, these were way more popular than Walkers realised, at least among crisp-eaters who like signing petitions. To mark their revival, a huge blow-up crisp packet was floated down the River Severn past Worcester Cathedral.
Worcester Sauce crisps – surprisingly moreish(Image: Edward Moss/PinPep / SWNS)
8. Covent Garden — saved: 1973
They loved to knock down old stuff in the 60s, to replace it with something groovy and grey and ugly. This fine old London market was due to make way for roads and offices, until campaigners managed to get 250-plus buildings listed. 9. Burton’s Fish ’n’ Chips biscuits — saved: 2014
Ever been approached by a pollster and asked which defunct snack product you’d like revived? Me neither. I need to get out more. Luckily, enough people were asked that very question, and picked this particular treat, that it returned to stores for the first time since the 90s. 10. Subbuteo — saved: 2012
This table football classic was mostly played on carpets, where players suffered regular injuries – ie. got knelt on and crushed. Production started winding down in 2000, but Subbuteo clubs and collectors wouldn’t let it die.
Yes, but does he look happy?(Image: Getty Images)
11. Flying Scotsman — saved: 2004
There was talk of this legendary locomotive being sold privately, maybe even taken overseas. Luckily, the National Railway Museum, helped by train-mad schoolkids, secured it for the National Collection. 12. The 100 Club — saved: 2011
Paul McCartney played a benefit gig when soaring rents threatened the future of this famous London venue. A petition drew 19,000 signatures. Trainer makers Converse stepped in (get it?) with sponsorship. To their credit, they didn’t demand corporate rebranding. 13. Opal Fruits — saved: 2008, 2020, 2021, 2024
To match the US branding, Opal Fruits were renamed Starburst in 1998. Some people remain sad about that, so makers Mars have cleverly played the nostalgia card several times since, with limited-edition Opal Fruits reissues. 14. The London Routemaster (Heritage Routes)— saved: 2005
Conductor-operated Routemasters were retired from regular service in 2005, owing to accessibility issues, running costs, blah blah. Public outcry prompted a compromise. There’d be “heritage routes”, with a small fleet in central London. So at least it gave the tourists what they wanted to see.
It wouldn’t be London without a few of these(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
15. Ripper Street — saved: 2014
Iffy ratings persuaded the BBC to axe this Victorian crime drama in 2013, after two series. More than 40,000 fans signed a petition demanding its return. Co-funding from those nice Amazon people then earned it a stay of execution. 16. Roy of the Rovers — saved: 2018
The football comic, featuring Melchester Rovers blond bombshell striker Roy Race, was shut in 1995. Roy carried on in Match Of The Day mag until 2001, then reappeared in a graphic novel reboot eight years ago. I believe he’s now 120 years old. 17. Formby’s red squirrels — saved: ongoing.
Squirrelpox, plus way too many of those ratty grey cousins of theirs, left this Merseyside colony near extinction by the late 2000s. Dedicated volunteers and the National Trust responded with monitoring and feeding, plus various techniques whereby predators were encouraged to do one.
A lovely bit of squirrel(Image: Press Association)
18. Hastings Pier — saved: 2016
A blaze in 2010 nearly finished off this Victorian structure. But a trust raised enough to get it reopened. Ironically, the rebuilding charity then went bust and the pier was sold privately. It opened again in 2019. 19. The Red Arrows — saved: 2007 & 2013
The world-famous aerobatic team has faced repeated axing threats, as penny-pinching defence reviews look to make savings. MPs and the public (that’s us) have pushed back every time. 20. Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club — saved: 2007
Albion’s owners in the 90s didn’t like football very much. In 1995 they sold the club’s ground, leaving it homeless. Fans campaigned for over 10 years for a new stadium, its only hope of long-term survival. The Amex, as it would become known, was finally approved in 2007, and opened in 2011. This year the Albion celebrates its 125th anniversary, flying high in the Premier League.
