BBC bosses ‘are planning to spend £63million on taxis for stars and employees’ regardless of being informed to slash prices

BBC bosses are preparing to splash out up to £63million on taxis for staff and presenters – despite warning they must slash £150million from programme budgets.

The eye-watering spend will fund a 24/7 cab service for employees, on-screen talent, guests and equipment under a new five-year contract advertised on a government procurement website.

The deal, equivalent to the cost of more than 361,000 TV licences, has been divided into two lucrative lots.

One is for an app-based ‘ride-hail’ service estimated to be worth £35.5million, while a second contract worth £17million will cover pre-booked journeys across the UK and overseas, The Sun reports.

The contracts are due to run from July 2027 to June 2030, with an option to extend for a further two years – pushing the total potential bill to £63million.

The corporation is thought to be losing around £1billion a year as increasing numbers of households claim they only watch streaming services and therefore do not need a TV licence.

Industry insiders have warned the shortfall could force deep cuts to flagship shows including The Traitors, fronted by Claudia Winkleman, Strictly, and big-budget period dramas such as the award-winning Wolf Hall. Some programmes could be axed entirely, while new commissions may be slashed.

The eye-watering spend will fund a 24/7 cab service for employees, on-screen talent, guests and equipment under a new five-year contract advertised on a government procurement website

The contracts are due to run from July 2027 to June 2030, with an option to extend for a further two years – pushing the total potential bill to £63million

All this comes as viewers brace for another hit to their wallets, with the TV licence fee expected to rise from £174.50 to more than £180.

The plans have triggered fury from campaigners and politicians, who say the spending shows how out of touch the broadcaster is with struggling licence fee payers.

Shimeon Lee, policy analyst at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘It’s a perfect example of how the BBC treats licence fee-payers’ money as an open tab.

‘While households are struggling to cover energy bills and food costs, the BBC is lining up app-based ride-hailing and international chauffeured travel for its own staff. These perks should be scrapped, and so should the licence fee.’

While Richard Tice, Reform UK deputy leader, hit out: ‘A fat cat limo contract is up for grabs for BBC staff for more than £10million per year. No wonder the licence fee is so expensive — where do we apply?’

The taxi tender has emerged just months after the BBC admitted in its annual plan that it faces an ‘unprecedented content funding challenge’.

The BBC has previously faced embarrassment over its taxi spending. Last year it emerged that bills included £484 for a journey from Salford to Oxford, while a 15-mile trip between Ruislip and central London cost £288.

Insiders say that under the new contract, any taxi costs incurred by commercial arm BBC Studios will be repaid to central BBC funds. A BBC source added: ‘We routinely recover VAT on all vatable purchases.’

In a statement, the broadcaster said: ‘We have strict guidelines in place around the use of taxis and when their use is and isn’t acceptable. The figure quoted is the maximum potential value.’

BBC has been approached for further comment.