Actress attacks BBC TV programme for still showing ivory products

Born Free actress Virginia Mckenna has hit out at the BBC’S Antiques Roadshow over its decision to continue to show objects made from ivory.

The government plans to ban the sale of all ivory items – older objects are currently permitted to be sold.

China, one of the world’s biggest markets, recently announced it was closing down its domestic market in a bid to reduce demand.

Wildlife campaigner and actress Mckenna, 86, called on the BBC One show to “step away from our parochial fascination with antiques at any price”, adding: “We cannot afford to put a value on bloody ivory.” 0 Virginia Mckenna attacked BBC’S Antiques Roadshow

She said that, despite the expected change in legislation: “Antiques Roadshow, a programme I regularly watch, has decided to continue to show ivory products.”

The popular show, presented by Fiona Bruce, would “continue to represent ivory as a desirable item, a thing of beauty instead of a symbol of destruction”, she said.

The co-founder of the Born Free Foundation and A Town Like Alice star said: “I have had the huge misfortune to see poached elephants.

“I have stood in tears on the African plains, just feet away from the collapsed carcass of a massive elephant, its tusks removed, its face disfigured.

“The stench of death was overpowering – and for what?

“So that someone, somewhere, could wear an ivory bangle, could put an ivory carving on their mantelpiece, could eat with ivory chopsticks, could stick some ivory in a vault and speculate on its worth when the species has been driven to extinction.”