Key facts
- The BBC is implementing £80 million in programming cuts.
- Several popular shows, including BBC Breakfast (Sundays), Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, and Live at the Apollo, are being axed.
- The cuts are part of a broader strategy to make the BBC "simpler and faster."
- Job losses are anticipated, with estimates ranging from 1,800 to 2,000 roles.
- These measures aim to achieve £160 million in overall savings.
The BBC is set to axe several popular television and radio programs as part of significant cost-cutting measures totaling £80 million. The changes, announced by new director general Matt Brittin, aim to make the corporation "simpler and faster" and are expected to be implemented starting in September.
Among the high-profile shows affected is BBC Breakfast, which will no longer broadcast on Sunday mornings. Other programs facing the axe include The World Tonight, Midnight News, and Money Box Live. Radio 5 will also see its airtime reduced. In the entertainment genre, Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, and Live at the Apollo are being cut as part of BBC Content's target to deliver at least £100 million in recurring annual savings. These entertainment cuts alone are expected to reduce original television programming by 100 to 150 hours by the end of the 2027-28 financial year.
These financial adjustments are anticipated to lead to substantial job losses, with estimates suggesting between 1,800 and 2,000 roles could be cut, contributing to overall savings of £160 million. Separately, BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty announced her departure after 17 years to take on a new role as co-presenter of 5 Live Breakfast in 2027, following the decision of current hosts Rick Edwards and Rachel Burden to step down.