Actor Judi Dench has joined the cast and crew of Radio 4's The Archers in urging the BBC to keep the show's recording in Birmingham.
Dench, who made a cameo appearance in the long-running drama in 1989, signed a letter to BBC director general along with other cast and crew members. The letter argues against relocating production away from the city.
The move comes after the BBC announced this week plans to stop recording the rural community soap opera in Birmingham for the first time in its 75-year history. The corporation scrapped plans for a radio drama studio, raising questions about where the show would be recorded in future.
The Archers has been a fixture of BBC Radio since its debut in 1950, with production rooted in Birmingham throughout that period. The cast and crew's letter represents a significant push-back against the corporation's plans, with a celebrated figure like Dench adding weight to their campaign.
The BBC has not yet responded publicly to the concerns raised by the cast, crew and Dench.