The BBC has axed three major shows from its schedule. As part of a huge cost-cutting overhaul, the corporation has revealed that Blankety Blank, Live at the Apollo and Celebrity Mastermind will be decommissioned. Mastermind, which is presented by Clive Myrie, will continue to air. Meanwhile, Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo, both of which have one more series, will broadcast for the final time.
BBC statement on cuts
The license-payer-funded corporation states that it remains committed to commissioning new entertainment programming and supporting comedy talent through digital plans, with a focus on stand-up and emerging performers. In a statement, the corporation 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 BBC added: "We will still continue to commission ambitious Entertainment shows and invest in distinctive UK content from a wide range of independent production companies of all sizes, as well as prioritising digital innovation that can serve fans of these shows and beyond - for example, we will shortly be announcing digital plans focused on stand-up and emerging comedy talent, ensuring we continue to support the stand-up community in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive media landscape."
Bradley Walsh departure
The shock announcement comes just days after Blankety Blank host Bradley Walsh revealed he wouldn't be returning to the show due to timing issues. Speaking to Radio Times, he said: "I just don't have the time, which is sad because I've loved Blankety Blank. It's been one of my favourite shows, and it's been brilliant..."
"It's the most fun you can have in the studio, and I just cannot at the moment work on it. I just have not got the time. I would normally go to studio October, but I'm all taken up in October and November, so I just haven't time to do it. Maybe next year."
Cost-cutting measures
The cuts come after the corporation announced plans to make £500 million in savings over the next three years. BBC Content has a target to deliver a minimum of £100million in savings, which will see a reduction of around 100-150 hours of originated TV programmes by the end of 2027/2028. It's expected that more savings across the Content department will be shared in the near future. Just several weeks ago, the corporation announced 550 job cuts across news, nations and TV and radio content.
CEO of BBC News, Jonathan Munro, detailed the changes to staff in an email last month, which included ending Radio 4's The World Tonight and reducing the number of presenters on Today from five to four, with a single anchor on Saturdays. BBC Breakfast will no longer air on Sunday from September, and the teams behind Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Newsnight will merge into one team.
