Scottish actors boycott the BBC

Open Letter to the BBC from Tam Dean Burn, 26 January 2009

Mark Thompson
Director general of the BBC

Dear Mark Thompson

We, the undersigned actors and directors, like millions of others, are absolutely appalled at the decision by the BBC to refuse to broadcast the DEC appeal for Gaza. We therefore are taking what action we can in protest at this decision by stating, like our fellow actor, Samantha Morton, we will never work for the BBC again unless this disgraceful decision is reversed. We will urge others from our profession and beyond to do likewise.

We will also not pay our TV license fee in protest and encourage others to do likewise.

It is time for the people of Britain to take a stand on this issue by demanding the BBC reverse this decision and by supporting the call from Palestinian civil society for a complete economic, academic and cultural boycott of Israel until it ends its pitiless violence against the long-suffering people of Gaza and the whole of Palestine.

Tam Dean Burn
Pauline Goldsmith
Peter Mullan
Alison Peebles

Some of the Press Coverage:

Peter Mullan and other stars to boycott BBC over Gaza charity snub
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/01/27/peter-mullan-and-other-stars-to-boycott-bbc-over-gaza-charity-snub-86908-21074121/

Scots stars boycott BBC over refusal to screen Gaza appeal
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2484751.0.Scots_stars_boycott_BBC_over_refusal_to_screen_Gaza_appeal.php

Actors vow to boycott BBC
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Actors-vow-to-boycott-BBC.4915507.jp

We will never work for the BBC again - actors and directors in Gaza protest
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/entertainment/We-will-never-work-for.4914990.jp