Stars in chorus of protest against arts spending cutbacks

SCOTTISH actor David Tennant has joined leading stars including Dame Helen Mirren, Victoria Wood and Miranda Hart in warning of a crisis faced by the arts from government cuts.

The 46 names from British film, TV and the stage say they feel compelled to "speak out". In an open letter, they say that arts and culture across the UK are facing "the biggest threat" in decades.

Other signatories to the letter, published yesterday, include Scots such as Bill Paterson and Peter Capaldi as well as famous names ranging from Kenneth Branagh to Rory Bremner, Julie Walters and director Mike Leigh.

The letter states: "Before the last election the government promised to usher in a 'golden age' for the arts. The reality couldn't be further from this.

"With the reductions announced in last year's comprehensive spending review, the withdrawal of huge amounts of local authority support, the abolition of the UK Film Council and the financial pressures faced by the Arts Councils and the BBC, we are currently facing the biggest threat to funding the arts and culture have experienced in decades."

Public investment "is critical for the UK's creative industries," they say.