SEVERAL independent production companies, including those behind Peaky Blinders and The Crown, have signed an open letter urging Tory candidates to drop plans to sell off Channel 4. 

Outgoing PM Boris Johnson has already signed off on plans to privatise Channel 4, but campaigners hope that a change of leader might offer a key opportunity to keep the state-owned broadcaster in public hands. 

On Friday, 16 production companies joined anti-privatisation campaign group We Own It’s new campaign against the sell-off. Their letter asks candidates running for PM to drop the plans. 

“As the Conservative Party leadership election begins in earnest, we are writing to you to highlight the damage businesses like ours will face if the current government’s plans to sell off Channel 4 are allowed to continue,” the companies wrote. “We urge you to reconsider and stop the sale.”

Leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat has previously voiced opposition to the plans. 

Signatories include Screen Yorkshire Ltd chief executive Caroline Cooper Charles, one of the firms behind award-winning TV series Peaky Blinders.