HUNDREDS of jobs are for the chop at the BBC following the broadcaster’s announcement today of a major shake-up of regional TV news and local radio in England.

Some 450 jobs will be cut as a result of the changes, which will see one instead of two presenters fronting 6.30pm regional TV news bulletins.

Inside Out, the regional current-affairs magazine show made in 11  regions, will be axed and replaced with a new investigative journalism programme from six hubs.

A "simplified schedule" introduced on local radio during the pandemic, with one rather than two presenters and a reduction in the number of shows, will become permanent.

The broadcaster said that BBC England – which currently has more than 3,000 staff – must save £25 million by April 2022.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the cuts – which will affect presenters, journalists, technical and operation staff – could have a serious impact on the BBC's "ability to represent all parts of the country."

NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: "These are huge cuts which will inevitably have an impact on the BBC's ability to sustain the breadth and depth of news coverage throughout England which truly reflects the diversity of the nation.

"The Covid-19 crisis has shown more than ever the need for an effective public-service broadcaster and for trusted, quality journalism in an era of disinformation and fake news.

"We cannot allow the BBC to sleepwalk into a death by a thousand cuts, which will inevitably see people switch off because they aren't getting the service they want."

Labour's shadow minister for media, Chris Matheson, said that the “root cause" of the cuts was in “the government's decision to slash BBC funding."

He said: "Ministers need to take responsibility and stop hiding behind the BBC management – the government caused these cuts, they should stand up and be counted." 

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee chairman Julian Knight said: "For the BBC to make the regions bear the brunt of 450 job cuts is devastating news. 

"Just two weeks ago BBC executive James Purnell told us that the broadcaster was strongly committed to local and regional journalism. This decision is a strange way of demonstrating that commitment."

Helen Thomas, the director of BBC England, said that "difficult decisions" had to be made on local and regional services "created more than 50 years ago."