The national broadcaster is getting ready to cut as many as 2,000 roles as part of a drive to reduce expenditure.
Around one in ten of the BBC’s 21,500 staff will be affected by these reductions, which come after the corporation revealed a £600 million efficiency plan in February.
This represents the biggest wave of staffing cuts since 2011, when almost 2,000 posts were removed.
According to the PA News Agency, personnel were informed about the job losses during an organisation-wide call at 3pm on Wednesday (April 15).
The redundancies are being carried out ahead of Matt Brittin taking over as director-general from Tim Davie.
When the efficiency strategy was announced in February, Davie said the BBC would need to slash ten percent of its approximately £6 billion yearly cost base over the coming three years.
Davie left the BBC on Thursday, April 2, having tendered his resignation in November.
Rhodri Talfan Davies, serving as the BBC’s acting director-general, will keep the organisation running until Brittin commences on Monday, May 18.
In a message to staff, Davies explained that the BBC is facing significant financial pressures that require immediate action. He noted that the gap between what the organisation spends and what it earns is growing. He attributed this to several factors: production expenses keep climbing substantially, licence fee and commercial income are under pressure, and the worldwide economic environment remains unpredictable.
To address this, the BBC must cut an additional £500 million from its £5 billion in annual operating costs over the next two years, with most of these new savings required in 2027/28. Unfortunately, these steps will also involve reducing the workforce. While details still need to be finalised, the total number of roles is expected to drop by between 1,800 and 2,000. Davies acknowledged this creates worry, but felt it crucial to be open about the situation.
Who is the new BBC director-general?
Matt Brittin, 57, a former Google executive, has been chosen as Tim Davie’s replacement, becoming the BBC’s 18th director-general.
After working as a McKinsey adviser, he moved to Google in 2007 and departed in 2025 following ten years as head of their EMEA operations.
He also represented Great Britain in rowing at the Seoul 1988 Olympics and secured a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships in 1989.
The Cambridge alumnus also took part in the Boat Races in 1987, 1988, and 1989.
Earlier this year, he was awarded a CBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to technology and digital skills advancement.
Regarding his new role, Brittin stated that now, more than ever, the BBC needs to thrive and serve everyone in a complex, uncertain, and fast-changing world. He noted that at its best, the BBC shows people and the world who they are. It is an exceptional, uniquely British institution with over a century of pioneering in storytelling, technology, and creative endeavour. He expressed being proud and excited to serve as director-general.