Save The Hour is a campaign aimed at convincing BBC Two to recommission one of its best, most brilliant programmes: The Hour. Overflowing with masterful performances, intelligent writing, and critical acclaim all over the world, including Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy nods, it has been lauded as the best of British Television. We are fans trying to work together to show the BBC just how much The Hour needs a third and final series or a film; thus, giving devoted fans closure and the artists who gave their all to this show the ending they deserve.
Our campaigners hail from all over the globe including but not limited to the UK, Argentina, Chile, Switzerland, Germany, France, Hungary, the U.S., and Korea.
This blog is run by:
Annie, Alice, and Ash
Since February 12, 2013, we have been based at Tumblr and Facebook, where we have been operating, growing, and conducting campaign initiatives. This is our next step into the blogosphere. Here you will be able to find all the news and information on our upcoming campaign initiatives, however, you will still continue to find us at our original home base. Again, those locations are:
http://savethehour.tumblr.com
and
http://www.facebook.com/SaveTheHour
More background on #SaveTheHour
On February 12th, 2013 the BBC announced it was cancelling one of its most sophisticated and poignant programmes, The Hour, in favor of new programming to the disappointment and dismay of its fans and the artists behind it. This decision not only left viewers with a major series two cliffhanger, it shocked the actors and writers who were made to believe the show, on a three series arc, would be allowed to come to a proper conclusion.
The series starred Romola Garai (as Bel Rowley), Ben Whishaw (as Freddie Lyon), and Dominic West (as Hector Madden) playing BBC journalists in 1950s London seeking to spread the truth to the masses at a time when television journalists were, as Freddie Lyon stated, "the weekly reassurance that everything is right with the world." While Series One focused on the Suez Crisis, Series Two dealt mainly with police corruption and vice in Soho. The Hour received glowing reviews from the likes of Newsweek, The New Yorker, TV Guide, and The New York Times. In addition, it was nominated for Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critic's Choice, and Emmy awards, among others.
What we've done so far
Before The Hour was cancelled, a petition was established by our very own Alice, and fans everywhere wrote the BBC asking for a third series. On news of the cancellation, viewers and critics took to the net to express their sadness and disappointment and the #SaveTheHour campaign was established.
- As of June 2013 the petition at change.org has seen over 22,000 signatures, and has been in various news outlets including Radio Times and Digital Spy.
- An offline campaign initiative has seen two waves of postcards, letters, and fan-made handicrafts go out to BBC Audience Services in support of The Hour and a final series or film. (You can see some of them at our tumblr.)
- The Yellow Lamp Project, in which donations were taken in order to send the Head of Drama Commissioning at the BBC and Kudos TV (The Hour producers) a yellow lamp, like Bel Rowley's iconic lamp in the show, representing our appreciation and our dedication to seeing a final conclusion. The project has been successful. Kudos has received their lamp and sent us a wonderful message! The BBC were not at liberty to accept gifts, however, the letter detailed our belief in what the show gives to the BBC and how we are campaigning was sent to Ben Stephenson with a few flyers recently.
- A Video Project campaign involving fans from around the world detailing why they love the show asking the BBC to bring it back has just been completed. Cast member, Oona Chaplin (played Marnie Madden) has tweeted the video and we are currently seeking to continue promoting it.
- An offline letter campaign to Head of BBC Drama Commissioning, Ben Stephenson is currently underway. Fans are sending letters and postcards to him with quotes, personal stories, and requests to bring back The Hour.
- SaveTheHour's Fundraiser for The National Literacy Trust Rather than taking up funds to send in food products and the like to the BBC, we're raising money for a good cause on Justgiving.com related to themes The Hour so wonderfully champions! To date we've reached 44% of our $1500 GBP goal. Help us reach our goal for the National Literacy Trust and support the outstanding work they do while showing love for The Hour to the BBC (we will be sending them a link to our page).
- Flash Mob/Demonstration at BBC Broadcasting House On May 28, 2013 some of our London campaigners took to BBC Broadcasting House to protest the cancellation of The Hour, as those campaigners across the globe encouraged them through an online Twitter flash mob, sending tweets to news sites and the BBC, encouraging them to take notice. We made the news on RadioTimes, The Guardian, and Digital Spy, in addition to gaining encouragement from BBC executives and a visit from Anna Chancellor (Lix Storm). We are currently looking into visiting BBC Broadcasting House again in the near future.
- Online initiatives are also taking place. Fans have taken to Twitter under the hashtag #savethehour, sending out thousands of tweets to express their love for the show, and the desire to gain closure to a brilliant series. Through this medium we have gained the support of Lisa Greenwood (played Sissy Cooper), Oona Chaplin (played Marnie Madden), and Kevin Sargent (composer for Series Two).
- Promotional materials featuring information about the petition, the website, and links to buy the series on Amazon or iTunes have been made for online and offline posting on blogs, campuses, coffeehouses, and the like.
- We were also very proud to see Ben Whishaw (played Freddie Lyon) speak of the movement on The Andrew Marr Show on March 10, 2013.
Plans are currently taking place for other offline and online campaigning movements. An entry will be posted here as soon as details are ironed out!
****You can check out our campaigning initiatives from their inception with our easy tag navigation at Tumblr.***
updated: May 31, 2013
Buy the series on Amazon or iTunes!
Write a personal letter in our BBC Drama Mailing Campaign!
Take part in all of the amazing initiatives going on currently and coming up soon!
Contact us here.
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