Jobs to go as BBC axes East Midlands current affairs programme

The BBC is to axe its East Midlands-focused current affairs programme, Inside Out, as part of a drive to save £25m.

The Nottingham-based team which produces the programme will lose their jobs, along with their counterparts in Salford, Tunbridge Wells, Southampton and Plymouth. Some 29 roles will lost as part of wider plan to cut 450 jobs.

In its place, a new show will be produced which the BBC says will focus on investigative reporting. Six editions of the new programme will be made in Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, Norwich and London, promising “local” current affairs.

The BBC said it is also making 139 people redundant across its local radio stations and television bulletins, with a reduction in on-air presenters.

BBC England director, Helen Thomas, said: ““We are in the age of the Facebook community group and the WhatsApp neighbourhood chat. We must adapt to better reflect how people live their lives, how they get their news and what content they want.”