The host of a long-running BBC interview programme today criticised the corporation’s decision to cancel it as ‘depressing news’ for the corporation.
HARDtalk today became the latest victim of cost-cutting at the public broadcaster nearly three decades after the show first aired in 1997.
The move was part of a wider BBC initiative to cut 130 jobs in its news division as bosses target another £200million worth of savings.
HARDtalk host Stephen Sackur today described the news as a ‘blow’ and hit out at BBC director general Tim Davie.
He wrote on X: ‘Today BBC News has announced plans to close HARDtalk after 3 decades holding the world’s politicians and powerbrokers to account.
‘This is sad news for me personally, but much more important, I think it’s depressing news for the BBC and all who believe in the importance of independent, rigorous deeply-researched journalism.’
HARDtalk host Stephen Sackur today gave his reaction to news the programme had been cancelled
Mr Sackur today described the news as a ‘blow’ and hit out at BBC director general Tim Davie
Criticising Mr Davie personally, Mr Sackur added: ‘A brilliant team of producers and researchers is being disbanded just as BBC DG Tim Davie is trying to persuade the British Govt that the journalism of the BBC World Service is such a vital expression of democratic soft power that the taxpayer must fund it.’
Other current presenters on the programme include Sarah Montague and Zeinab Badawi.
Mr Davie said earlier this year that the national broadcaster is looking to save another £200million.
A total of 500 cuts will be achieved by the end of March 2026, as bosses said the BBC faces a tough financial climate.
Earlier today acclaimed poet laureate Simon Armitage slammed the BBC over its ‘bewildering’ decision to cancel his well-received Radio 4 programme, which boasted the likes of King Charles and JK Rowling as its guests.
The show, titled ‘The Poet Laureate Has Gone to his Shed’, had run for three successful seasons, leading to what Armitage described as ‘very intimate and engaging conversations’.
Mr Sackur reacted to the news in a long thread posted on X
Mr Armitage, who is five years into a ten year laureateship, has been hosting the show from the shed at his home in the Pennine hills of West Yorkshire since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March, 2020.
Discussing poetry amongst other topics, the show garnered a great appreciation from its loyal listenership, which saw other celebrities such as Sir Ian McKellen and Chris Packham join Armitage for a glass of sherry in his shed.
Sharing that he has been relentlessly protesting the decision with the BBC, Armitage has been unable to convince the organisation to perform a u-turn on the show’s cancellation.