Big names join forces to support free TV licences for the over-75s

Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Lenny Henry and Amanda Redman are among 20 celebrities who have signed an open letter urging the next Prime Minister to “save free TV licences for the over-75s”.

Ahead of the final Conservative leadership hustings and with less than a week to go until the country’s new Prime Minister is announced, the celebrities have joined together to express their disappointment about plans to scrap free TV licences for all over-75s and urge the Government to “think again and do what’s right for the oldest in our society”.

Highlighting their concerns about some of the poorest and loneliest over-75s losing out, the celebrities join the growing chorus calling on the Government to continue funding free licences, arguing that “responsibility for paying for free TV licences for the over-75s should never have been handed over to the BBC in the first place”.

Over four-fifths (83 per cent) of those polled by Age UK – equivalent to over 42 million people – believe the Conservative Party should keep its manifesto pledge to fund free TV licences until 2022.

The Charity has been inundated with support for its Switched Off campaign since the BBC made its announcement to means-test TV licences for the over-75s last month. Its online petition has now surpassed the 600,000 mark and the Charity has been flooded with calls and emails from people across the country who are worried about losing their free TV licence, or concerned for others who may be affected.

Since its introduction in 2000, the free TV licence has been a highly valued, universal entitlement for the over-75s which has helped millions to sustain their quality of life into late old age. Research for the Charity shows that television is the main form of company for two in every five (38 per cent) people aged 75+ and nine out of 10 in this age group watch TV every day. Countless older people have told the Charity just how important their TV is to them, using phrases such as a “lifeline”, “my link to the outside world”, “not just a pastime but a necessity… my life support machine.”

In support of the campaign, Dame Helen Mirren said: “It’s just absolutely heart-breaking that so many older people are going to lose their free licence, when television plays such an important role in their lives. In many cases it acts as an important contact with the outside world. I would urge all those involved including the Government to do the right thing and to carry on funding free licences for all over-75s – the cost of which is surely a small price to pay for keeping so many vulnerable older people connected.”

Gogglebox star, June Bernicoff, aged 81, added: “For many older people television is their only company in the evenings. It is a lifeline that keeps them involved, entertained and engaged and to take that away from them would be isolating and heartbreakingly unfair.”

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: "Hugely welcome as it is, sadly this letter is also a bittersweet reminder of what older people will miss if they can't afford to buy a TV licence in the future.

"I think many older people will be hugely cheered to see these household names supporting their cause and they will be hoping, as we do in Age UK, that our new Prime Minister listens and takes back responsibility for funding free TV licences for 75s - whether it's Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt. The Government should never have outsourced this welfare entitlement in the first place but the new administration that is about to come into place at least has the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and right the wrong that's been done to our older population."