Save the South Bank Show, says Chris Martin

Coldplay front man Chris Martin has declared that ITV flagship arts programme the South Bank Show should be saved, BroadcastNow are reporting this morning.

ITV announced that the series, which has been fronted by Melvyn Bragg since 1978, will cease to exist after the current series comes to a close next summer.

But Chris, who was filmed as part of an upcoming episode of The South Bank Show last week, told newspaper Metro that he would lobby to save the iconic strand. "It's a great show and something must be done," he said.

Bragg will step down from his role as presenter of the show and controller of arts at ITV Studios when the show concludes in June 2010. He said that the decision had been made when ITV told him they could no longer afford to produce the show to the same standard.

ITV has promised that it will be looking to replace The South Bank Show with a new arts programme, but insiders fear that the show's cancellation will spell the end for arts on the commercial broadcaster.

More on this at the Coldplay forum here onwards.