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Coronavirus: BBC invites staff to apply for voluntary redundancy due to COVID-19 impact

The move is blamed on a delay in means-testing of the free licence for over-75s and issues in collecting fees during lockdown.

The BBC needs to change with the times, the culture minister said
Image: The redundancies will come from public service staff
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The BBC has invited staff to apply for voluntary redundancy as it attempts to make 拢125m in savings this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The broadcaster has asked its public service staff - not those in its commercial subsidiaries - to make a voluntary redundancy expression of interest.

In an internal message to staff, director-general Lord Hall blamed the move on the delay in means-testing of the free TV licence for over-75s and issues in collecting the licence fee during lockdown.

"Our commercial operations are also severely affected", he said.

Lord Tony Hall is stepping down as director-general of the BBC after seven years and he told Sky that 'it was always going to be difficult to leave'.
Image: Lord Tony Hall, who is stepping down as director-general of the BBC

A spokesman said the savings were on top of those the corporation had previously committed to and planned for - £800m by 2021-22.

"The BBC's challenge is to keep delivering programmes and services for the whole country while continuing to adapt and change," they said.

"The BBC is therefore inviting public service staff to express an interest in voluntary redundancy."

More on Bbc

The BBC suspended plans to cut around 450 jobs in its news production because of the demands of covering the coronavirus pandemic but the cuts will still take place at a later date.

Tim Davie
Image: Tim Davie will replace Lord Hall as the broadcaster's next director-general

James Purnell, director of radio and education, recently told MPs that the corporation would have to air repeats and the pandemic's effect on schedules would be starker next year.

Tim Davie is set to replace Lord Hall as the broadcaster's next director-general.