Has confirmed it is cutting a raft of Radio 4 programmes, most notably the long-running consumer and social affairs show, You and Yours. Winifred Robinson has served as the programme’s presenter since 2000.
Alongside the flagship consumer show, the social sciences programme Thinking Allowed and the arts and ideas series Free Thinking are set to be axed. Other affected broadcasts include The Artificial Human and Open Country. Additionally, Radio 5 Live will see a reduction in its scheduled commissions and podcast output. While maintaining the strength of Radio 4 and 5 Live, the country’s two biggest speech radio stations, that means accelerating growth on our own digital platforms and reaching more people beyond.
Jonathan Wall, Director of Sounds, stated the corporation is currently “reshaping speech audio” with the goal to “build a strong future for trusted journalism, distinctive storytelling and programmes that bring people together.” Wall explained that by commissioning fewer shows overall, intends to focus investment on the most impactful formats across broadcast and on-demand platforms. Saying: “We need to make significant savings while investing for the future, he added that the “difficult decisions” about cuts to shows and staff were “not based on cost alone”.
Despite the cuts, the broadcaster plans to invest in a new consumer programme, as well as two weekly series that will focus on ideas shaping the modern world, including the impact of technology and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, existing Radio 4 programmes such as In Our Time, Start the Week, and Farming Today are set to expand in duration.
These changes are part of a broader effort to save £500m across the corporation over the next two years. In June, announced 550 job losses across its news, nations, and content divisions. Earlier in April, the broadcaster revealed plans to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs—nearly 10% of its workforce—to address significant financial pressures.
Staff have been briefed on various proposals, including the potential end of The World Tonight on Radio 4 and a reduction in permanent presenters on the Today programme from five to four. Furthermore, there are plans to move to a single anchor for the Saturday edition of Today. Other changes include removing One’s Breakfast from Sunday mornings and merging the production teams behind Newsnight and Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
Director general Matt Brittin recently indicated that the current financial climate and evolving audience habits mean that some stations and channels may not be guaranteed to exist indefinitely. Speaking on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, he remarked that they could not guarantee any specific programme or channel would continue forever.
The announcement follows a report from an influential group of MPs last week, in which the DCMS committee recommended that licence fee should be extended to cover non-television services. The committee also suggested that the corporation’s charter review should be abandoned and made permanent, while arguing for an end to political appointments on board to bolster public trust.
