After 44 years of bare boobs being splashed across page 3 it appears that The Sun’s controversial feature has been quietly axed.
The Guardian first broke the news this evening after speaking to a series of unnamed insiders at the red top who revealed the decision was meant to happen under the radar.
It has yet to be confirmed by tabloid executives.
However the news has delighted those who considered it to be sexist and misogynistic – particularly Lucy Holmes who founded the No More Page 3 campaign.
Ms Holmes has tirelessly campaigned on the issue since September 2012 calling on Sun editor David Dinsmore to pull the feature and ‘stop conditioning your readers to view women as sex objects’.
A No More Page 3 statement tonight read:
“Wow we’re hearing the Sun may have dropped Pg3. [sic]
“This could be truly historic news and a great day for people power… We don’t know the details for sure and there’s still lots to be done… But this could be a huge step for challenging media sexism.
“And we are so incredibly grateful to all of you who stood up and said No More Page 3.”
The petition David Dinsmore: Take The Bare Boobs Out Of The Sun #nomorepage3 amassed more than 215,000 signatures since its launch, with supporters welcoming the recent news on social media sites.
English comedian and Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins took to Twitter to share her delight.
She said: Goodbye Jugs – Hello Actual News! Congrats to @NoMorePage3 and all those who campaigned. HURRAY! xxx
Goodbye Jugs – Hello Actual News! Congrats to @NoMorePage3 and all those who campaigned. HURRAY! xxx
— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) January 19, 2015
So beautiful- the tireless work of many yielding such deserved results. Congrats @NoMorePage3– a v proud supporter xx pic.twitter.com/fSOH80H7Hi — Cora Milner-Morris (@Sarcasticpigeon) January 19, 2015
Exciting rumours that @TheSunNewspaper is announcing @nomorepage3 – time to add an exclamation mark to my badge?! pic.twitter.com/V2Z0DkI5Qa — Helen Undy (@helen_undy) January 19, 2015
Is it true?! I’m crying with happiness! @NoMorePage3 #NoMorePage3 — Amie G (@AmieGdawg) January 19, 2015
However campaigners are wary that victory hasn’t been declared just yet as it’s understood that the paper may reinstate the feature if sales plummet.
Head of PR at The Sun, Dylan Sharpe, failed to confirm or deny reports merely stating that readers would find page three where it normally is – between pages two and four.
Page 3 will be in @TheSunNewspaper tomorrow in the same place it’s always been – between page 2 and page 4. — Dylan Sharpe (@dylsharpe) January 19, 2015
Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks
