The BBC will cut up to 2,000 of its employees, marking the largest reduction in the company in the last 15 years.
"Significant Financial Pressure"
According to Sky News, employees were informed about the upcoming layoffs on Wednesday. However, management did not specify who exactly would be affected by the cuts.
As noted by the channel, the layoffs are related to the broadcaster's intention to reduce expenses by 10% over the next three years. This decision is due to "significant financial pressure" faced by the BBC.
Previously, The Media Copilot reported on a wave of layoffs at several global media outlets in early 2026 due to declining search traffic as a result of artificial intelligence reviews. According to the British industry magazine Press Gazette, layoffs have been carried out by Washington Post, CBS News, The Observer, Axios, CNBC, The Sun, Vox Media, The Wall Street Journal, and Politico.
Savings on Funerals and Coronations
Last month, The Telegraph reported that the BBC would be making cuts to the BBC Studios Events team, which is responsible for covering major state events such as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the ascension of King Charles III.
Of the six members in the team, only journalist Claire Popplewell remains, who oversaw the coverage of the weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. The BBC intends to collaborate with the other team members as freelancers.
Sources from the newspaper clarified that Buckingham Palace is concerned about the implications of reducing the team's size for covering events related to the royal family.
