11 jobs are to go the BBC Children’s & Education department, around three per cent of the total workforce, following a revision to production at the CBBC Studio.
A consultation at the department’s Media City base has already started after a decision was made to outsource the presentation links between shows on the popular kids channel. The links used to take place in the iconic Broom Cupboard but are now done in the CBBC Studio, as favourites like Hacker T Dog (pictured with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy) announce shows and take part in mini skits. Production on the CBeebies presentation links, including the famous Bedtime Stories, will remain the same.
The move is the second phase of a set of changes brought in last year following an 18-month structural review into BBC Children’s, the first of which saw around 25 leave the department.
The presentation links will reportedly be put out to tender next month, supported by a reduced in-house team. A similar outsourcing decision was taken over popular BBC kids show Blue Peter earlier this year. Another 11 roles will be created to support BBC Children’s focus on animation commissions and content production for the Bitesize Futures strategy. Animation has been a key plank of department boss Patricia Hidalgo’s strategy since she took over.
BBC Children’s hits include the likes of Hey Duggee, Oliver Twist adaptation Dodger and Nicolas Winding Refn’s Famous Five.
“This is the second phase of changes that were announced to staff in February 2023 to deliver our creative ambitions for Children’s and Education, allowing us to make savings but also reinvesting so we can deliver more value for audiences across the UK,” said a BBC spokeswoman. “These decisions are never easy, but we aim to make these savings – as far as is possible – through voluntary redundancy.”
In its annual report in July, the BBC said it would lay off 500 more staff by March 2026 as it attempts to get its deficit under control. The corporation has been battling with heightened competition, soaring costs and a practically frozen licence fee. Earlier this month, it was revealed that around one fifth of the 500 will come from local news teams outside of London.
The news comes on the same day Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the RTS Convention in London: “Children’s TV is one of the things your industry and our country is brilliant at.”
