--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's tough and it should be tough - it…" description: "\"It's tough and it should be tough - it should never be easy to be given millions of pounds to make a drama. The coalition government is doing terrible ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/russell-t-davies-13415_bbc_it-s-tough-and-it-should-be-tough-it-sho_2702843.jpg" --- # It's tough and it should be tough - it should never be… ![“It's tough and it should be tough - it should never be easy to be given millions of pounds to make a drama. The coalition government is doing terrible things to the BBC, but drama will survive even if we end up putting on a play in a backroom of a pub.” quote by Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/russell-t-davies-13415_bbc_it-s-tough-and-it-should-be-tough-it-sho_2702843.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/russell-t-davies-13415_bbc_it-s-tough-and-it-should-be-tough-it-sho_2702843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/russell-t-davies-13415_bbc_it-s-tough-and-it-should-be-tough-it-sho_2702843.jpg) > “It's tough and it should be tough - it should never be easy to be given millions of pounds to make a drama. The coalition government is doing terrible things to the BBC, but drama will survive even if we end up putting on a play in a backroom of a pub.” [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that producing drama should be challenging and not financially easy, and that despite political interference, artistic resilience will persist. **In simple terms:** Drama should be hard, not easy; it will survive political pressure. Key Takeaway Embrace difficulty, protect creative integrity. Themes art politics resilience media creativity Mood defiant hopeful Type cautionary inspirational When to use this quote - TV production - theatre - independent filmmaking - political protest Key Concepts Cultural policy artistic integrity public funding Questions to Reflect On - How can creators maintain integrity under funding pressure? - What role does public support play in artistic survival? A Different Perspective Political control can still stifle expression despite resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bbc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bbc/) [Bbc Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bbc-drama-2746415/) [Coalition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalition/) [Coalitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalitions/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama Coalition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-coalition-2746417/) [Drama Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-survive-2746416/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-drama-656408/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Millions Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions-pounds-1652588/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pounds/) [Pub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pub/) [Pubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pubs/) [Putting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putting/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-things/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [Getting to do what I think was my fifth BBC drama with Nikki Amuka-Bird - we've done 'Shoot The Messenger,' 'Five Days,' 'The No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/getting-to-do-what-i-think-was-my-fifth-bbc-drama-with-nikki-amuka/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [It would be a very odd chancellor of any UK government that insisted on a course of action that cost their own businesses hundreds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/it-would-be-a-very-odd-chancellor-of-any-uk-government-that-insisted/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [As a player, I was a pantomime villain and I had my limitations. But I was also good enough to captain four Premier League…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/as-a-player-i-was-a-pantomime-villain-and-i-had-my-limitations-but-i/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [There are a lot of programmes around where people are spending millions of pounds building incredible houses and that's great television. But for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clarke/there-are-a-lot-of-programmes-around-where-people-are-spending/) [George Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clarke/) > [I normally get paid tens of millions of pounds to fight and I ended up fighting for free. I don't like fighting for free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-normally-get-paid-tens-of-millions-of-pounds-to-fight-and-i-ended/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [“It is an odd thing that you can easily get millions of pounds for weapons to destroy life, but it is exceedingly difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harpole/it-is-an-odd-thing-that-you-can-easily-get-millions-of-pounds-for/) [James Harpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harpole/) > [Who authorised the spend of millions of pounds and thousands of man hours into a stale, historical situation from three decades ago - with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-king/who-authorised-the-spend-of-millions-of-pounds-and-thousands-of-man/) [Jonathan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-king/) > [You couldn't hope to make a drama and have people rewriting on the day and having the actors making suggestions, "Wouldn't it be funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-lowney/you-couldn-t-hope-to-make-a-drama-and-have-people-rewriting-on-the/) [Declan Lowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-lowney/) > [If I lose the first set, I still have two more. Let's not make a drama, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garbine-muguruza/if-i-lose-the-first-set-i-still-have-two-more-let-s-not-make-a-drama/) [Garbine Muguruza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garbine-muguruza/) > [When you make drama you are like Picasso. Drama is whatever you want it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/when-you-make-drama-you-are-like-picasso-drama-is-whatever-you-want/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [When you make a drama, you spend all day beating a guy to death with a hammer, or what have you. Or, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/when-you-make-a-drama-you-spend-all-day-beating-a-guy-to-death-with-a/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [A good relationship dont just happen. They taketime, patience, honest, courage and a slut came inbetween to make a drama scene. But most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaceem-madd/a-good-relationship-dont-just-happen-they-taketime-patience-honest/) [Kaceem Madd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaceem-madd/) > [There's something that happens where you go, if you're lucky, goodness me, from film to another film to another film. And you can sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/there-s-something-that-happens-where-you-go-if-you-re-lucky-goodness/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [If there's something you need to get done, don't make it a drama. It's much more enjoyable without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-mead/if-there-s-something-you-need-to-get-done-don-t-make-it-a-drama-it-s/) [Jon Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-mead/) > [I had to trick people into giving me money for my first film. Making a romantic comedy is easier and more expected from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-delpy/i-had-to-trick-people-into-giving-me-money-for-my-first-film-making-a/) [Julie Delpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-delpy/) ## More by Russell T Davies > [“If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the north?' 'Lots of planets have a north!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/if-you-are-an-alien-how-come-you-sound-like-you-re-from-the-north/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [...Something we once loved, and love now, in the shape of a book. Maybe eBooks are going to take over, one day, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/something-we-once-loved-and-love-now-in-the-shape-of-a-book-maybe/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [There's nothing better than a party that turns into a death trap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/there-s-nothing-better-than-a-party-that-turns-into-a-death-trap/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [Cyber Leader: Daleks, be warned. You have declared war upon the Cybermen. Dalek Sec: This is not war - this is pest control! Cyber…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/cyber-leader-daleks-be-warned-you-have-declared-war-upon-the-cybermen/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [I hate the idea that I have to represent any particular section of society; I just write good telly, that's all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/i-hate-the-idea-that-i-have-to-represent-any-particular-section-of/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [Rose:i love you Doctor:Quite right, and i guess if it's my last chance to say it... Rose Tyler... (the doctor fades, him in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/rose-i-love-you-doctor-quite-right-and-i-guess-if-it-s-my-last-chance/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [“The Doctor: Hello, I've come to see the Lord Mayor. Idris Hopper: Have you got an appointment? The Doctor: No, just an old friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/the-doctor-hello-i-ve-come-to-see-the-lord-mayor-idris-hopper-have/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [“Rose Tyler: The time war ends. Emperor Dalek: I will not die! I cannot diieee! \[we see Rose's eyes light up, and the Dalek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/rose-tyler-the-time-war-ends-emperor-dalek-i-will-not-die-i-cannot/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [Steven wrote to me today, saying, 'Don't you feel like sticking your head out of the window and yelling, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/steven-wrote-to-me-today-saying-don-t-you-feel-like-sticking-your/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [I saw the Fall of Troy! World War Five! I was pushing boxes at the Boston Tea Party! Now I'm gonna die in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/i-saw-the-fall-of-troy-world-war-five-i-was-pushing-boxes-at-the/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [I would rather be confused for 10 minutes than bored for 5 seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/i-would-rather-be-confused-for-10-minutes-than-bored-for-5-seconds/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [I love having debates with people when they are debates but some people, you just can't. Some people shouldn't be given the oxygen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/i-love-having-debates-with-people-when-they-are-debates-but-some/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [Harriet Jones: When they fart, if you'll pardon the word, it doesn't smell like a fart, pardon the word, it's like something else. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/harriet-jones-when-they-fart-if-you-ll-pardon-the-word-it-doesn-t/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [You are worthy of love and respect. You are beautiful, gifted, and intelligent. Don't let the storm make you forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/you-are-worthy-of-love-and-respect-you-are-beautiful-gifted-and/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [What Rose brings to the Doctor’s life is completion. It’s completing a circle – he’s male, he’s alien, he’s a traveler. Between the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/what-rose-brings-to-the-doctor-s-life-is-completion-it-s-completing-a/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) [Explore all 50 Russell T Davies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) ## More Bbc quotes > [My first job was a film called 'Storm Damage' for the BBC. I was 16 and working with really respected British actors. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/my-first-job-was-a-film-called-storm-damage-for-the-bbc-i-was-16-and/) [Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/) > [The BBC called me 'defiant' in a caption. I plan to frame and put it on my wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/the-bbc-called-me-defiant-in-a-caption-i-plan-to-frame-and-put-it-on/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [I'm slightly obsessed with Moomins. They were my specialist subject on BBC's 'Celebrity Mastermind' a few years ago!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/i-m-slightly-obsessed-with-moomins-they-were-my-specialist-subject-on/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [I don't have any quarrel with the BBC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-may/i-don-t-have-any-quarrel-with-the-bbc/) [James May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-may/) > [The BBC will always be attacked by whoever is in government. It is that George Bush thing of 'If you're not with us you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/the-bbc-will-always-be-attacked-by-whoever-is-in-government-it-is/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I'm obsessed with the BBC comedy 'Mum.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-cox/i-m-obsessed-with-the-bbc-comedy-mum/) [Sara Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-cox/) > [The BBC can be infuriating at times but I love it with a passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/the-bbc-can-be-infuriating-at-times-but-i-love-it-with-a-passion/) [John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/) > [I wish I hadn't lost it, and for the rest of my life I can never again lose my temper on TV. The BBC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/i-wish-i-hadn-t-lost-it-and-for-the-rest-of-my-life-i-can-never-again/) [John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/) > [In my opinion, the BBC are one of the best producers of drama in the world, and it made me incredibly happy to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-pasqualino/in-my-opinion-the-bbc-are-one-of-the-best-producers-of-drama-in-the/) [Luke Pasqualino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-pasqualino/) > [I'm a fan of the BBC, and have worked there on many projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-watkins/i-m-a-fan-of-the-bbc-and-have-worked-there-on-many-projects/) [Jason Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-watkins/) > [I've always had an unsentimental view. I don't think the BBC is my auntie. I worked there for years, and you learn that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-ve-always-had-an-unsentimental-view-i-don-t-think-the-bbc-is-my/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [ “Fran Katzenjammer: "You need someone normal around here". Bernard: "Normal! He's normal is he, is he"? Fran Katzenjammer: \[chuckles\] Bernard: "What am I then"?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/fran-katzenjammer-you-need-someone-normal-around-here-bernard-normal/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [I played Nelson Mandela in one thing for laughs - and I did it because this thing had come round from the BBC that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/i-played-nelson-mandela-in-one-thing-for-laughs-and-i-did-it-because/) [Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/) > [It's sad that the BBC is toning down Dennis the Menace for a cartoon series. He is losing his weapons, catapult and peashooter, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/it-s-sad-that-the-bbc-is-toning-down-dennis-the-menace-for-a-cartoon/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [The BBC is a very confident broadcasting organisation and it needs brands like 'Top of the Pops' and 'Top Gear.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-edmonds/the-bbc-is-a-very-confident-broadcasting-organisation-and-it-needs/) [Noel Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-edmonds/) [Browse all 109 Bbc quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bbc/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's tough and it should be tough - it should never be easy to be given millions of pounds to make a drama. 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