Newsnight faces being AXED as skint BBC scrambles to save £500million in ‘worrying time’ for staff

NEWSNIGHT staff fear the BBC current affairs show will be axed by the end of next year. Beeb bosses must save £500million and sources say they are determined to preserve the News at Six and News at Ten. Newsnight staff fear the BBC current affairs show presented by Victoria Derbyshire will be axed by the end of next year Credit: BBC Launched in 1980, Newsnight has been hosted by the likes of Jeremy Paxman Credit: Handout Newsnight’s team has fallen from 57 to 23 after its special investigations team was axed. And staff fear it is a sitting duck as focus switches to short, shareable social media clips and iPlayer. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! One told The Sun: “Everyone is concerned for Newsnight and how it will fare in the next cuts. “We’ve been warned there are likely budget reductions and revisions next year. “It’s a worrying time. “The new Director-General (Matt Brittin) has made it clear that success is down to clicks.” In June, the BBC merged the production of Newsnight and Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg. BBC Radio was also heavily hit by the first round of cuts. Most read in TV Launched in 1980, Newsnight has been hosted by the likes of Jeremy Paxman and Kirsty Wark. In November 2019, two million watched Emily Maitlis grill then-Prince Andrew over his connection to paedo financier Jeffrey Epstein. In November 2019, two million watched Emily Maitlis grill then-Prince Andrew over his connection to paedo financier Jeffrey Epstein Credit: PA Host Kirsty Wark presenting her last BBC Newsnight in 2024 Credit: PA Now hosted by Victoria Derbyshire, the show has been cut from 45 minutes to 30. BBC said: “Since its reformat it has significantly increased its audiences and won an award. “The BBC needs to save £500million over the next three years. “News will play its part in contributing to those savings.” 1 comment1