BBC in England understands the value of soaps. Why can't BBC Scotland?

The Herald Scotland

29-04-2025

Did BBC Scotland consider these statistics when making its decision, did it even know about them, will it be able to match these figures on its new, shorter-form productions?
BBC Scotland has made a one-dimensional decision based on falling ratings while not taking into account many other crucial factors, which is why over 250 actors and writers like Peter Mullan, Elaine C Smith, Irvine Welsh, Robert Carlyle, Blythe Duff and Alan Cumming have signed a letter fundamentally disagreeing with the decommission.
Maybe the BBC in England has understood the wider context and value of soaps in a way that BBC Scotland has singularly failed to do, and therefore EastEnders is recognised with a Special Bafta Award rather than with a decommission. If that isn't cultural vandalism, what is?
Rob Jarvis (cast member, River City), The Wirral, Merseyside.
• Mark Smith ('A message to the BBC from a child of the BBC: everything has changed and you can't fight it', The Herald, April 28) says that he thinks that the £174 licence fee has started to feel like a lot. It works out at just 47p per day, you can't even get a tabloid newspaper or a rubbish cup of burger-van coffee for 47p and yet for that tiny amount you get all of the BBC, TV radio, online and World Service.
I agree that the licence fee model is no longer viable but until a better solution is found, I'm happy to pay my licence fee.
Stuart Neville, Clydebank.
Read more letters
Stop the sham consultations
Noting that there is yet another "consultation on chronic pain" by the Scottish Government ("Over 300 people die as they wait to see pain specialist", The Herald, April 26), given that in Scotland hundreds of thousands myself included suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia, Neuropathy and suchlike we are now sick and tired of their procrastination. Whilst understanding the cost of finding solutions is daunting, supporting chronic pain sufferers, many of whom may in supported circumstances be able to work, would surely be a better and more productive way forward than another sham consultation which excludes actual pain sufferers from contributing in favour of pain-free professionals.
We don't need more platitudes, we need a plan to examine and develop ways to eradicate chronic pain or at least improve support services, allowing sufferers the dignity and hope to feel we actually count towards our society.
Eddie Phillips, Kilwinning.
Disrespecting Arctic Convoy
I note with interest your front page article headed "Former navy chief recalls the day atomic bomb was dropped" (The Herald, April 28).
The second paragraph describes the Arctic Convoy as 'a gesture of support to the Soviet Union in 1941'. The word "gesture" struck such a discordant note that I looked it up in the Oxford Dictionary to find that, as I suspected, a gesture is "an action performed for show in the knowledge that it will have no effect".
This is so wrong and disrespectful to the crews of the 85 merchant vessels and 16 Royal Navy warships which were lost during the 78 convoys which sailed between 1941 and 1945.
There were 1,400 ships from not only the Royal Navy and merchant navy but also the Canadians and the US in the convoys.
In addition Germany also lost a battleship, three destroyers, 30 U-boats and many aircraft.
Far from being an action with no effect, the convoys not only demonstrated the Allies' commitment to helping the Soviet Union by delivering essential supplies prior to the opening of a second front, but also tied up a substantial part of Germany's naval and air forces.
Linda Gillies, Stewarton.
Eilish McColgan finishing eighth in the women's elite race during the TCS London Marathon on Sunday (Image: PA)
Marathon disgrace
Eilish McColgan certainly did Scotland proud by finishing among the top 10 women in the recent London Marathon ("McColgan eyes 'big goal' after setting marathon record on debut", Herald Sport, April 28). Unfortunately she will not be able to run in the Commonwealth Games Marathon in Glasgow next year. Why? Because the powers that be have decided to exclude the Marathon.
Some of the fastest Marathon runners come from Commonwealth countries like Kenya but they will all be deprived of the opportunity of running in the 2026 Commonwealth Games Marathon and we shall all be deprived of the opportunity of seeing some of the greatest Marathon athletes in the world competing in Scotland.
On January 11, despite my republican loyalties, I wrote to the King in his capacity as Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, expressing my concern about the exclusion of the Marathon. Co-signatories of the letter included a former First Minister of Scotland, a former Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow, a former Commonwealth Games marathon runner, a Team Scotland Press Officer for a previous Commonwealth Games and several MSPs, including a former Minister for Sport. After a couple of months, I had to chase up Buckingham Palace before eventually getting a response, suggesting that I contact The Commonwealth Games Federation . I wrote to the CEO of the Federation on March 21 and sent a reminder on April 14. So far I have not even had an acknowledgement.
I am beginning to wonder if the powers that be would be capable of organising an egg and spoon race. I fear that the Commonwealth Games may be facing an existential threat.
Dennis Canavan, Founder and former Convener of the Scottish Parliament Cross- Party Sports Group, Bannockburn.