BBC's 2,000 job cuts will include 550 from news, TV and radio

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:23 BST, 17 June 2026 | Updated: 15:38 BST, 17 June 2026

The BBC is to slash a further 550 jobs from its news, television and radio operations as part of a sweeping cost-cutting drive that will also see programmes axed and £80million stripped from content spending.New director-general Matt Brittin revealed the scale of the cuts to staff in an email, confirming that more than a quarter of the corporation's planned 1,800 to 2,000 redundancies will come from editorial and broadcasting teams.The move forms part of the broadcaster's bid to save £500million over the next two years, with around 700 corporate roles also expected to disappear as the corporation embarks on a major restructuring programme.The BBC will also review its portfolio of television channels and radio networks as more viewers and listeners move online, although it has not yet revealed which programmes or services could face the axe.In his message to staff, Brittin warned that difficult decisions lay ahead.He wrote: 'The scale of savings requires tough choices, careful work and won't all be ready at once. We are committed to letting you know as soon as we have plans in your area. All divisions will be making significant savings…'We live in very uncertain times. Our audiences rely on us every day to keep them informed, entertained and equipped to make sense of the world.'Making savings while fulfilling our mission means a doubly difficult time for everyone. Do speak to your leaders and use the support that's available. In the meantime, thank-you for all you are doing.' New director-general Matt Brittin revealed the scale of the cuts to staff in an email, confirming that more than a quarter of the corporation's planned 1,800 to 2,000 redundancies will come from editorial and broadcasting teams The BBC will also review its portfolio of television channels and radio networks as more viewers and listeners move onlineThe corporation hopes that the cuts affecting BBC News, television and radio will contribute around £160million towards its overall savings target.Brittin also told employees the BBC would reduce the number of senior leaders by 'at least' 10 per cent in a bid to make the organisation 'simpler and faster'.The former Google executive, who took over as director-general in May, said further details of the restructuring would be announced 'in the months ahead'.He is due to host an all-staff question-and-answer session next Tuesday at 2pm.The announcement prompted an immediate warning from broadcasting union Bectu that the latest round of cuts risks damaging the BBC's long-term future.Philippa Childs, the union's head of media and entertainment, said it was 'far from ideal' that the redundancies were taking place while the corporation's Royal Charter renewal process is under way.She said: 'I'm not sure how you can make informed decisions about the long-term future of the organisation when it will be in a substantially diminished place at the end of the process than the beginning.'In an era of fake news and an industry that is becoming more concentrated in the hands of a few multinational corporations, the UK needs a confident, ambitious and sustainably-funded BBC more than ever.'The charter renewal must put the BBC's funding on a secure, long-term pathway or it risks death by a thousand cuts.'While acknowledging the redundancies had been anticipated, Childs warned they would still have a profound impact.She said the cuts were 'expected', but would 'still be devastating for the workforce and to the BBC as a whole'.She added: 'Ten per cent cuts when real terms income from the licence fee is already down £1.3 billion in the last decade is significant and will affect the BBC's ability to deliver its public service mission.'It seems clear that cuts will have a direct impact on programming and output, and audiences will also notice the effects.'Bectu is actively engaging with the BBC to mitigate the impact as much as possible, and we will support members facing redundancy as well as those who will see their workloads drastically change.'The latest overhaul follows Brittin's appointment as director-general in May after Tim Davie stepped down in November 2025. Davie resigned following editorial coverage that resulted in a 10 billion dollar (£7.5 billion) lawsuit being brought by US president Donald Trump over the editing of a Panorama documentary.