As TV licence holders, taxpayers and Ripper Street fans, we object to the BBC's rash programming decision to cancel quality drama Ripper Street because it was not "successful" in the ratings against mindless reality show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.

The purpose of a public broadcaster is to produce content that is in the public interest and not swayed by commerical pressures such as ratings.

It is appalling that British culture is being determined by brainless celebrity reality shows.

This cannot go on and we demand that the BBC uses our licence payments to produce and show us teleivison that we deserve to watch and will educate us and make our lives greater not dumb us down.

We remind the BBC that at a time when it is celebrating the 50 years success of Doctor Who that programmes need time to grow and find an audience. Had the BBC cancelled Doctor Who in 1963 after its initial ratings failure, we wouldn't be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

We call on the BBC to accept it has made a mistake and reverse its decision to axe Ripper Street and commence production on a third season immediately.