The BBC has confirmed it will scrap three of its much-loved shows — Live at the Apollo, Celebrity Mastermind, and Blankety Blank — as part of £500 million budget reductions aimed at saving the corporation.
Shows affected and fan reaction
Live at the Apollo, a stand-up comedy series that first aired in 2004, will be shelved after 22 years. The show helped launch the careers of comedians such as Jack Dee, Sarah Millican, Sean Lock, and Alan Carr. Celebrity Mastermind and Blankety Blank are also being cut.
Fans have expressed heartbreak on social media. One tweeted: "Budget cuts? How much does Live at the Apollo cost to film?!" Another wrote: "RIP Celebrity Mastermind, you will always be famous." A third said: "Things are looking very gloomy and then they have the nerve to film an ad about the TV licence. A system that will never ever work in this day and age." A fourth added: "That's so sad. We have nowhere for new talent to come through. This should always have been Saturday night entertainment."
BBC statement and future cuts
In a statement, the BBC said: "We are incredibly proud of all three of these much-loved shows and would like to thank everyone involved, both in front of and behind the camera, for bringing them to screen and making them such a success over many years. Unfortunately, we have to make some really tough choices in light of our funding challenges, and these savings have been identified from the entertainment genre."
The broadcaster added that regular series of Mastermind, presented by Clive Myrie, will continue. One more series each of Live at the Apollo and Celebrity Mastermind have been recorded and are yet to air. The BBC aims to achieve a minimum of £100 million in recurring annual savings, leading to a loss of roughly 100–150 hours of original TV programmes by the end of 2028, according to the Express. Further savings are expected to be announced in the coming months.
