BBC to cut 2,000 jobs after ‘savage’ phone call with staff

The BBC is to cut 2,000 jobs, sources have said after a “savage” all-staff phone call.

Employees were told of redundancies during the call at 3pm on Wednesday but were not given details of who will be affected, the Press Association understands.

One staff member who was on the call told PA: “I mean, it was savage. They have not outlined how or where these jobs will be cut and it’s just caused huge panic.

“One in every 10 will lose their job which is awful. It’s a touch Hunger Games where we have dialled in to be told you’re going to have to fight for your jobs or you’re going to have to put someone up to be sacrificed.

“Nobody really knows who’s going and we’re asking the bosses but they don’t know either.

“Talk about getting bad news before the new DG (director-general) starts. It will be one of the first things the new DG has to deal with – staff in full revolt and a Government who aren’t impressed by the BBC’s lack of warmth to it.”

Bosses at the corporation are trying to reduce costs by 10% over the next three years.

The biggest round of BBC job cuts in almost 15 years are being set in motion as former Google boss Matt Brittin prepares to take over as director-general next month.

Earlier, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “This Government believes in the BBC, and we think it is one of the two most important institutions in the country.

“The NHS looks after the health of our people, and the BBC is one of the greatest defenders of the health of our nation.”

Interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies, who led the all-staff meeting, will head the corporation until Mr Brittin takes over on May 18.

He told staff: “All of this needs to be done with real care – for our audiences and, of course, for all of you.

“I know this is challenging news, and we’ll need to work closely together to build our plans.

“My commitment to you is that we’ll do everything possible to try to reduce the strain and uncertainty that change of this kind brings.”

The corporation also recently revealed plans to drastically reduce the team behind coverage of national occasions, such as royal events and state funerals, to one member of staff and freelancers.

In February, the BBC revealed it would reduce spending by hundreds of millions of pounds in the next three years as it continues to face “substantial financial pressures”.

At the time, the corporation said it hoped to make savings of about 10% of its costs by 2029, but no detail was given about what services may be affected.

It was also revealed in January 2025 that the BBC World Service was to axe 130 jobs as it looked to save about £6 million for the next financial year.

Predominantly funded through the annual £174.50 licence fee, paid by UK TV-watching households, the BBC has faced pressure over value for money as it faces competition from streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+.

On April 1, the licence fee rose to £180 per year.

Outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie stepped down from his post on April 2, having announced his resignation in November after a turbulent few years for the broadcaster.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the corporation for its plans to cut thousands of jobs, and has urged for it to engage workers and trade unions and reconsider its proposals.

Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said: “Plans for more brutal job cuts are wrong, damaging and will cause uncertainty and distress for workers at the BBC.

“Previous rounds of cuts have led to reduced programming, loss of experience, unmanageable workloads, fewer opportunities and have significantly hit staff morale.

“These cuts severely undermine the BBC’s ability to fulfil its purposes: providing quality journalism and programming that informs, educates, and entertains.

“Plans for further cuts follow years of real-terms budget reductions and relentless cost-saving measures which have impacted core parts of the corporation.

“This can’t go on.

“The BBC cannot provide quality journalism without the talented and experienced workers who make it possible.”