BLACKBURN-born Ian McShane has signed an open letter with 45 other film, television and stage stars to warn about government arts cuts.

They say they feel compelled to ‘speak out’ as arts and culture in the UK are facing ‘the biggest threat’ in decades.

Other signatures include Kenneth Branagh, Rory Bremner, Julie Walters and Jo Brand.

The letter states: “Before the last election the Government promised to usher in a ‘golden age’ for the arts. The reality couldn’t be further from this.

“With the reductions announced in last year's comprehensive spending review, the withdrawal of huge amounts of local authority support, the abolition of the UK Film Council and the financial pressures faced by the Arts Councils and the BBC, we are facing the biggest threat to funding the arts and culture have experienced in decades.”