The BBC has axed some of its most beloved shows, as part of £500 million budget cuts designed to save the corporation, leaving fans devastated by the cancellations
The BBC has announced it will be scrapping even more of its shows as part of desperate cuts to save the corporation. The move has stunned fans as the channel is set to make even more slashes over time.
Live at the Apollo will be shelved after 22 years, as part of the £500million budget reduction. The popular stand-up comedy series first aired in 2004 and was the starting block for some of the UK’s most legendary comedians.
Big names such as Jack Dee, Sarah Millican, Sean Lock and Alan Carr, were able to get their big break in comedy thanks to Live at the Apollo. But it is not the only victim of the latest round of cuts, with Celebrity Mastermind and Blankety Blank also being axed.
In a statement, the BBC confirmed: “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 later said that regular series of Mastermind will continue to be broadcast, presented by Clive Myrie. As well as this, one more series each of Live at the Apollo and Celebrity Mastermind have been recorded and are yet to be aired.
Labeling the cuts as “difficult”, the statement outlined the BBC’s aim of achieving a minimum of £100million of 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.
It stated further savings “will be announced in the coming months”. This suggests these much-loved programmes may not be the last to face the axe.
Fans have been left heartbroken, with one tweeting: “‘Budget cuts?’ How much does Live at the Apollo cost to film?!”. Another said: “RIP Celebrity Mastermind, you will always be famous.
“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,” another person concurred.
While a fourth social media user wrote: “That’s so sad. We have nowhere for new talent to come through. This should always have been Saturday night entertainment.”
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