Christopher Biggins has hit out at the BBC offloading the rights to his iconic comedies, which has slashed his royalties.
who played Lukewarm in the 1970s hit Porridge alongside Ronnie Barker, lamented the days when he would receive substantial sums for reruns on mainstream channels. Now, with the shows broadcast on digital platforms, his earnings have dwindled to mere pennies.
He expressed his frustration, saying: "When it was repeated on One or BBC Two I used to get something like £1,500. But then unfortunately the BBC, in their own judgement, sold all the comedy shows to Gold, which we earn no money at all for." Bemoaning the paltry payments now coming his way, he added: "I get cheques for 15 pence. What do you do with a cheque for 15 pence? ".
Biggins is clearly irked by the loss of significant repeat fees and believes his fellow actors share his irritation, reports . He continued: "It's very rarely now repeated on BBC One or BBC Two. It's always constantly on those satellite channels and we get nothing."
READ MORE:
"It really angers all of us. It is bizarre and it is very unfair. It's ridiculous." Although Biggins may be more familiar to younger viewers from reality TV appearances such as Celebrity , he first found fame in the 1970s with roles in Porridge, Upstairs, Downstairs, and Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.
Over the summer, Speaking out about the latest controversy to hit the show, Biggins, 75, expressed little sympathy for the contestants who have complained about alleged abuse, stating: "If you don’t want to be hit across the knuckles, don’t do the show."
The show was thrown into chaos following abuse claims from former contestants, leading to the exit of Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima. Actress Amanda Abbington has been the most vocal contestant to speak out about her time on the show. During his interview with Alexis Conran on Biggins revealed that he turned down an offer to appear on Strictly due to it being very challenging and requiring a lot of hard work.
He said: "This whole saga that's going on at the moment annoys me because I've been asked and I would not do it because it is very, very difficult. You have to really be light on your feet, which I think I am but you have to work hard. I mean, it's one of the worst, not the worst, it's one of the most hardworking reality TV shows there is on television."
Biggins dismissed the complaints about the professional dancers, stating that success on the show requires hard work and dedication. He believes that many of those who are complaining are not up to the challenge and shouldn't be on the show.
The has contacted UKTV for comment.
Follow Mirror Celebs on , , , , , and .
You may also like
TMZ slammed as 'disgrace' over Liam Payne body photo after star's death
Darshan case victim's wife delivers boy
Heartbroken Liam Payne fans gather outside Argentina hotel in touching tribute to 1D star
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'buy new stunning holiday home in Portugal'
3 killed in Mumbai highrise fire, 3rd blaze in complex in 15 months
'Bharat Mata ki jai' bail rider for 'Pak zindabad' sloganeer
'Brilliant' Royal Mail delivers 102-year-old's letter despite it having no address
Extreme Poverty In India Drops From 431 Million In 1990 To 129 Million: World Bank
Liam Payne revealed plans for the day in final social media post before tragic death
Liam Payne's girlfriend 'left singer in Argentina' days before his tragic death
CEC Rajiv Kumar stranded near Munsiyari after forced copter landing
IAF Fight Lieutenant, Captain wife die by suicide 250km apart
Perishers - 17th October 2024
Shock new migrant tactics revealed as Channel smugglers look for new UK routes
Asylum backlog would've spiralled due to Tory policies including Rwanda plan, report shows
Outlander fans 'baffled' by Jamie Fraser's risky actions in new season 7 part 2 clip
Shower screen limescale clears in under 1 minute with 1 natural item that 'beats vinegar'
TikTok Video Of Liam Payne's Ex-Fiancée Maya Henry Goes Viral After His Death
PM becomes 1st 'active member' during BJP drive
Poll official: No complaint yet on 'vote jihad'