The Andrew Neil Show ends as BBC News unveils cuts

The Andrew Neil Show ends as BBC News unveils cuts

Postby dutchman » Wed Jul 15, 2020 6:45 pm

The Andrew Neil Show will disappear from BBC schedules as part of cuts to the corporation's news operation

Image

The political discussion programme had already been off the air during the Covid-19 crisis and will not return. But the BBC said it was talking to Neil about a new BBC One interview show.

In total, 520 jobs will go, from a workforce of around 6,000 people.

That includes 450 job cuts that were announced as part of an £80m savings drive in January, and then put on hold.

Most of the changes will take place behind the scenes.

The corporation's head of news, Fran Unsworth, said the BBC would concentrate on fewer stories, with journalists pooled in centralised teams, rather than working for specific programmes.

The BBC News Channel and BBC World will continue to share some output in the mornings and evenings, as they have done during the Covid-19 crisis, although they will remain separate channels.

Radio 4 programme In Business will close, as will the Business Live page on the BBC News Website, while bespoke business news bulletins on the BBC News channel will be reduced.

On BBC World Service, World Update and The World This Week will end, while daily current affairs show Newsday will shorten in length.

The BBC also said it would close most of its social accounts to focus on core services like @bbcnews, @bbcworld and @bbcbreaking.

One of Neil's former programmes, lunchtime TV show Politics Live, will return four days a week after being rested during the pandemic.

More than 100 MPs and peers recently wrote to the BBC, arguing that axing it permanently would "seriously harm the ability of the BBC to scrutinise and explain" politics.

Announcing the latest cuts, the BBC said: "We remain committed to Andrew Neil's in-depth interviews (as well as the Budget, US Election and other Specials).

"The Andrew Neil Show will not be returning but we're in discussions about a new interview series on BBC One."

Neil had previously told the Radio Times he feared he would become "surplus to requirements" as the BBC made cutbacks.

:bbc_news:
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50290
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Return to Other TV

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests

  • Ads