I am a British citizen who spends a significant portion of each year working abroad. On average, I spend eight out of ten months overseas. During my daily routine, I rely heavily on the broadcasts from BBC radio stations 3 and 5. I listen to these stations on average five hours each day, making them an essential part of my life. They are more than just a source of news. They form a bridge, a link, to the life I'm unable to experience back home due to the demands of my work. The service these stations provide to me and many other British citizens living or working overseas is invaluable. Our license fees fund these broadcasts, and it is incredibly disheartening to hear that the BBC is planning to halt these services by Spring 2025.

BBC Radio has an estimated weekly reach of 35 million listeners in the UK and a further 44 million worldwide. Therefore, this decision does not just affect me, but a substantial international audience who appreciates the culture, information and comfort the broadcasts bring to their lives. (Source: OFCOM, Radio Joint Audience Research).

This decision needs reconsideration. We appeal to the BBC and the relevant bodies overseeing its operations to ensure the continuation of these broadcasts. Cutting down these services creates a void that simply cannot be replaced for those of us living or working overseas. We urge the BBC and OFCOM to find other ways to meet their budgetary needs without sacrificing this lifeline. Please sign this petition to help us retain the worldwide broadcast of BBC Radio Stations.