BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest downsize in 15 years

The BBC is to cut as many as 2,000 jobs in the biggest down-sizing of the public service broadcaster in 15 years.

Staff are set to be informed of the cuts, which will affect about 10% of the BBC’s 21,500 staff, at an all-staff meeting on Wednesday.

The job cuts, which are being set in motion before the arrival of former top Google executive Matt Brittin as director general next month, represents the biggest round of job cuts since 2011.

The BBC announced a £600m cost-cutting plan in February, warning that it would result in job cuts and the end of some programming.

Tim Davie, the outgoing director general, said at the time that the BBC would need to cut 10% of its approximately £6bn annual cost base over the next three years.

Davie departed the BBC on 2 April, having announced his resignation in November after controversy over coverage of issues including Donald Trump, Gaza and trans rights.

Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC’s interim director general, is leading the all-staff meeting, first reported by the Financial Times, and will continue to head the corporation until the arrival of Brittin on 18 May.

The BBC is now in negotiations with the government over the renewal of its royal charter, which expires at the end of next year, including the licence fee funding mechanism.

The corporation saw the licence fee increase in line with inflation on 1 April, increasing from £174.50 to £180 annually.

It made £3.8bn from the collection of the licence fee last year from 23.8 million households, plus a further £2bn from commercial activities and grants.

However, licence fee paying households decreased by 300,000 year-on-year amid an increase in evasion and a rise in audiences switching to just watching rival digital platforms such as Netflix and Disney.