The BBC's flagship current affairs programme Newsnight could disappear from TV screens by the end of 2027, according to staff who spoke to The Sun on Monday (August 24). The potential axing comes as the corporation faces significant financial pressures, needing to save £500 million, as new Director-General Matt Brittin said in June.
Programme's Storied History
Launched in 1980, Newsnight has covered some of the biggest news moments of the 21st century. Millions tuned in to watch Emily Maitlis' interview with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in November 2019, when she questioned the then-prince about his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Approximately 14 million people streamed that interview.
In 2013, longstanding host Jeremy Paxman conducted a combative interview with comedian Russell Brand, challenging him on his calls for a political "revolution" despite Brand admitting he had never voted in an election. Years earlier, in 1997, Paxman famously asked then-Home Secretary Michael Howard if he "threatened to overrule" prisons boss Derek Lewis 12 times during a live clash about Howard's decision to sack Lewis two years earlier.
Impact and Legacy
The interview with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor inspired the Netflix feature film Scoop and the three-part Amazon Prime drama A Very Royal Scandal, both released in 2024. It also featured in the 2022 satirical musical comedy Prince Andrew: The Musical.
Newsnight faced a major overhaul in 2024 when bosses cut its investigative journalism teams. The show, fronted by Victoria Derbyshire, Matt Chorley and Paddy O'Connell, has since centred around debate and political guests. The move slashed Newsnight's headcount from 57 to 23, with further budget savings made in June when the BBC merged the production of Newsnight and Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
BBC Response
A BBC spokesperson did not deny the claims reported in The Sun when approached for a comment. Instead, they told the outlet: "Since its reformat, it has significantly increased its audience and won an award. The BBC needs to save £500m over the next three years. News will play its part in contributing to those savings."
If the BBC goes ahead and cancels the show, the only person who will be relieved by its downfall will be Andrew himself. It has continued to deliver award-winning investigative journalism throughout its tenure and is one of the few programmes on the channel that has managed to avoid the countless scandals pouring out at every seam.
