Andrew Neil show is AXED as BBC News announces a further 70 job cuts due to coronavirus – taking total redundancies to 520
- BBC today revealed The Andrew Neil Show will end as the Covid crisis subsides
- It is slashing a further 70 jobs in BBC News, with total redundancies rising to 520
- Corporation announced plans to cut 450 jobs in a bid to save £80m in January
- Job cuts and decision to end free TV licences for over-75s delayed by outbreak
The BBC today revealed The Andrew Neil Show will end as the corporation culls a further 70 jobs in BBC News, taking the total number of redundancies to 520.
Neil’s political programme has not been on the air during the coronavirus pandemic, but the broadcaster said the show will not return even as the crisis subsides.
In a statement, the BBC said it remains ‘committed to Andrew Neil’s in-depth interviews’ and said it is ‘in discussions about a new interview series on BBC One’.
The veteran journalist’s short-lived show, which began last autumn and stopped at the start of the coronavirus crisis, saw Neil interview Jeremy Corbyn, former Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and arch Brexiteer Nigel Farage in the 2019 General Election.
He famously delivered an on-air ultimatum to Boris Johnson which led to an ’empty chair’ moment after the PM refused to be interviewed by Neil.
The decision to axe Neil’s show was widely criticised online, with Labour MP Wes Streeting tweeting: ‘The cancellation of @afneil’s show is great news for those in power wishing to avoid scrutiny and a shame for everyone else.’
The BBC today revealed The Andrew Neil Show will end as the corporation slashes a further 70 jobs in BBC News, taking the total number of redundancies to 520
In January the BBC announced plans to cut 450 jobs in a bid to save £80million, which included axing the popular Victoria Derbyshire Show.
The corporation postponed those job cuts and the decision to end free TV licences for the over-75s in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
That contributed to a further budget shortfall, meaning that the number of proposed job losses in news has increased by 70 posts.
Fran Unsworth, the corporation’s head of news, today announced that BBC News will instead 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, although they will remain separate channels.
Radio 4’s In Business and the Business Live page on the BBC News Website will also close, while business news bulletins on the BBC News channel will be reduced.
Neil’s political programme had not been on the air during the coronavirus pandemic, but the broadcaster said the show will not return even as the crisis subsides. Fran Unsworth (right), the corporation’s head of news, announced BBC News will instead concentrate on fewer stories, with journalists pooled in centralised teams rather than working for specific programmes
Ms Unsworth said: ‘Covid-19 has changed all of our lives. We are still covering the most challenging story of our lifetimes.
‘During this crisis audiences have turned to BBC News in their millions and I’m incredibly proud of what we, as a team, have been able to achieve.
‘But if we don’t make changes, we won’t be sustainable. This crisis has led us to re-evaluate exactly how we operate as an organisation. And our operation has been underpinned by the principles we set out earlier this year – fewer stories, more targeted and with more impact.
‘We’re aiming to reach everyone, every day. For BBC News to thrive, and for us to continue to serve all our audiences, we have to change.’
The BBC says it will have fewer reporters overall but that a new commissioning system will ensure coverage is coordinated.
A new original journalism team will also be created, incorporating several staff from the Derbyshire show, to pursue under-reported and exclusive stories. There will also be a greater focus on digital storytelling.
Broadcasting union Bectu said it would hold BBC management to account and seek to avoid compulsory redundancies.
‘BBC News is one of the most trusted brands at home and abroad. In an era of fake news and during an unprecedented health crisis this trust in a public service broadcaster is critical,’ said Bectu head, Philippa Childs.
‘The government needs to take back responsibility for free licence fees for the over-75s, providing precious resources that would allow BBC News to continue to provide its world-leading range of news broadcasting.’