BBC to pursue cuts of up to £600m as bosses point to fall in licence fee income

Thu, 12 Feb 2026

Job losses and programming cancellations expected after Tim Davie tells staff broadcaster is not a ‘protected species’

The BBC is to pursue cuts of up to £600m that will result in job losses and the end of some programming, amid concerns at a decline in the number of households paying the licence fee.

Tim Davie, the outgoing director general, told staff that the broadcaster was not a “protected species” and that 10% of the BBC’s costs would have to be cut over the next three years.