The host of a long-running BBC interview programme today criticised the corporation’s decision to cancel it as ‘depressing news’ for the corporation.
HARDtalk today became the latest victim of cost-cutting at the public broadcaster nearly three decades after the show first aired in 1997.
The move was part of a wider BBC initiative to cut 130 jobs in its news division as bosses target another £200million worth of savings.
HARDtalk host Stephen Sackur today described the news as a ‘blow’ and hit out at BBC director general Tim Davie.
He wrote on X: ‘Today BBC News has announced plans to close HARDtalk after 3 decades holding the world’s politicians and powerbrokers to account.
‘This is sad news for me personally, but much more important, I think it’s depressing news for the BBC and all who believe in the importance of independent, rigorous deeply-researched journalism.’
HARDtalk host Stephen Sackur today gave his reaction to news the programme had been cancelled
Mr Sackur today described the news as a ‘blow’ and hit out at BBC director general Tim Davie
Mr Sackur reacted to the news in a long thread posted on X
Criticising Mr Davie personally, Mr Sackur added: ‘A brilliant team of producers and researchers is being disbanded just as BBC DG Tim Davie is trying to persuade the British Govt that the journalism of the BBC World Service is such a vital expression of democratic soft power that the taxpayer must fund it.’
Other current presenters on the programme include Sarah Montague and Zeinab Badawi.