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To: BBC Director General, Matt Brittin

Save Radio 4 Extra

Radio 4 Extra logo
We call on the BBC to reconsider its decision to axe Radio 4 Extra, denying listeners a much-loved service that showcases the BBC at its best and comes at a very minimal cost to the corporation. 

Why is this important?

Radio 4 Extra is a fabulous showcase of the BBC's phenomenal archive of radio comedy and drama, fields in which the Corporation is an undoubted pioneer, with a reputation for quality rivals woud envy.

At minimal cost to the licence-payer, Radio 4 Extra provides a marvellous showcase for the best of this nation's creative output. 

While all the programmes will be available on BBC Sounds, the closure of the linear broadcast station would be to deny listeners the joy of discovering something they didn't know they were going to love – something that can be only provided by human curation, not an algorithm.

Radio 4 Extra showcases public service broadcasting at its finest. We do not want it to go.  
United Kingdom

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Updates

2026-11-09 11:27:56 +0000

We sent this petition to the BBC – but essentially received a stock response.

They said they knew it 'will be disappointing for its loyal and dedicated audience’ ad were ‘grateful for the devotion to the BBC and Radio 4 Extra shown by all those who signed’ this petition. But will still swing the axe in the spring, citing £500m savings it needs to make.

They also repeated the line about some of the programming being available on BBC Sounds (not all as I incorrectly said when starting the petition) – though of course that doesn't address the lack of human curation introducing you to shows you didn't know you'd like.

More here: https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2026/11/09/62003/bbc_rejects_petition_to_save_radio_4_extra

2026-10-27 15:45:42 +0000

10,000 signatures reached

2026-10-22 21:31:38 +0100

5,000 signatures reached

2026-10-21 17:30:07 +0100

1,000 signatures reached

2026-10-21 13:11:52 +0100

500 signatures reached

2026-10-21 10:45:38 +0100

100 signatures reached

2026-10-21 10:21:55 +0100

50 signatures reached

2026-10-21 10:15:42 +0100

25 signatures reached

2026-10-21 09:33:05 +0100

10 signatures reached