A petition urging the BBC not to axe Victoria Derbyshire’s current affairs show has now reached more than 11,000 signatories.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the BBC was planning to take Victoria’s morning show off the air, as part of a round of budget cuts.
Since then, a Change.org petition has been set up calling for the BBC to reconsider their decision.
The petition – set up by Katie Kendrick – says: “Victoria has delivered exceptional award-winning journalism over the years; representing the marginalised in our society and reaching audiences many others struggles to get to.
“Victoria Derbyshire has given a voice to so many people in our society including: survivors of historic sexual abuse, children’s care system [and] young people’s mental health [and those in] poverty… that’s why I’m urgently calling on the BBC to reconsider their decision.”
At the time of writing, just over 11,000 people had shown the petition their support in the space of two days.
Victoria broke her silence on the BBC’s decision on Thursday, revealing that she’d found about her show being axed in the press.
She said: “Absolutely devastated at the plan to end our programme (which I first learned about in yesterday’s Times).
“I’m unbelievably proud of what our team and our show have achieved in under 5 years, breaking tonnes of original stories (which we were asked to do); attracting a working class, young, diverse audience that BBC radio & TV news [programmes] just don’t reach (which we were asked to do) [and] smashing the digital figures (which we were asked to do).”
Victoria added: “I’m gutted particularly for our brilliant, young, ambitious, talented team - love ’em. And for all those people we gave a voice to. Love them too.”
At the beginning of Thursday’s show, she also gave a defiant statement, saying: “Good morning and welcome to the programme. We are still here, telling your stories and covering the issues that are important to you in your life.
“And do you know what? We don’t give up.”
HuffPost UK has contacted the BBC for comment.