Jack Whitehall, Matt Lucas and Chris Chibnall take to Twitter in support of BBC3

Rumours are rife that BBC3 is facing the axe after Tony Hall announced that “hard decisions” need to be made in the face of £100m in savings cuts. Bad news for loyal viewers and those owing the youth-aimed channel their first big break.

But it seems that if BBC3 is really going down, it’ll do so fighting, with many already stirred into action on Twitter. #SaveBBC3 is top of the trends thanks to scores of fans and a growing batch of famous faces (admittedly, many of them with vested interests) tweeting their support…

BBC3 presenters Greg James, Rick Edwards and Jake Humphrey have all encouraged followers to support the #SaveBBC3 campaign:

Such a load of balls if the rumours about BBC3 being axed are true.Genuinely brilliant new comedy + live music needs that platform #SaveBBC3

— Greg James (@gregjames) March 4, 2014

PETITION! PETITION! PETITION! https://t.co/V4LIiW4ibv #saveBBC3

— Rick Edwards (@rickedwards1) March 5, 2014

#BBC3 serves people not catered for by the rest of the Corporation. Innovative, brave, creative. We should be really worried if it does go..

— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) March 5, 2014

#SaveBBC3 no where else give young new comedy talent the chance to take risks. Launched so many comic careers. BBC please don't cut it.

— Jolyon Rubinstein (@JolyonRubs) March 5, 2014

… meanwhile, @archemilylauren made the very valid point: 

If they get rid of BBC3 where will The Revolution will be Televised be televised #savebbc3

— lauren (@archxemily) March 4, 2014

Stacey Dooley and Jack Whitehall – two of the channel’s biggest stars – added their voices to the mix, lauding BBC3 for its documentary output and as a breeding ground for young comics…

What on earth???! #SaveBBC3 ….the critics are so predictable. They fail to mention channel has numerous bafta docs to boast. #teambbc3 ???

— Stacey Dooley (@StaceyDooley) March 4, 2014

I really hope reports that the BBC may kill BBC3 are just rumours. There support of new comedy in particular is vital! #saveBBC3

— Jack Whitehall (@jackwhitehall) March 4, 2014

Uncle, Bad Education, Cuckoo, Revolution Will Be Televised, Him and Her, (RTS nom’d today) In The Flesh, The Fades, Being Human… #SaveBBC3

— Chris Chibnall (@ChrisChibnall) March 4, 2014

Meanwhile, the prospect of losing BBC3’s youthful voice was a main concern for presenter Jameela Jamil, writer Leo Richardson and comedy panel show Sweat the Small Stuff:

When they axe BBC3, technically BBC4 will be BBC3. So really, they're axing BBC4. Oh no. I love BBC4. It's a disaster.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) March 4, 2014

They can't axe BBC3. Then BBC4's name will seem really weird.

— Ed Byrne (@MrEdByrne) March 4, 2014

I wish in the #SaveBBC3 campaign, people would stop naming shows that have been off the air for years. What is it value RIGHT NOW?

— Wolfgang ?️‍? (@Golden_Gaytime) March 5, 2014

Will we miss it dearly? Yes. Will we forget it ever existed six months after it's gone? Yes. #SaveBBC3

— Tina Tama (@TinaTama) March 5, 2014

But among BBC3’s fans, outrage and disbelief were prevalent, with scores of tweeters sharing their favourite programmes and memories of the channel:

I've learnt numerous things, laughed many times and fallen asleep watching BBC3. Will be a crying shame if they axe it. #SaveBBC3

— Siobhan (@itssiobhann) March 4, 2014

I don't think I want to live in a world that Stacey Dooley isn't investigating. #savebbc3

— Matt Brannigan (@Matthew_Who) March 4, 2014

But if they axe BBC3 WHAT WILL I SPEND MY TIME DOING? BEING PRODUCTIVE? WHAT WILL I WATCH UNTIL 4AM?! #SaveBBC3

— Patsy Emma K (@Patseh_) March 5, 2014

We may be an Internet generation but we still like staying up late infront of the TV and regret it in the morning going to work! #SaveBBC3

— Rob Grover (@RobGrover1) March 5, 2014

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