BBC announces closures of BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra in latest cost-cutting cull

In a note to staff explaining the changes, BBC Director-General Matt Brittin said: “We need to make every pound work harder for audiences as we respond to the immediate cost pressures and reinvent the BBC for a changing world.

“We all know that means tough choices.

“Much of the great content they currently carry will still be found where audiences already enjoy it on iPlayer and Sounds.

“While this follows media speculation, I recognise the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues.”

Delving further into what the future for each of the three stations will look like without their linear broadcasts, the BBC provided a brief explanation.

For BBC Scotland, it will remain a channel on iPlayer, while content will also be available on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland.

BBC Three commissions, supported by increased investment in content for younger audiences, will be available on BBC iPlayer and on other platforms, including YouTube, the broadcaster has said.

Meanwhile, programmes from Radio 4 Extra will be available for listeners on BBC Sounds.

It added that the station’s mainstay, The Daily Service, will be on BBC Sounds and local radio.

News of the linear broadcasts’ closures comes against the backdrop of the BBC cancelling and shelving some of its best known shows.

Earlier this week, Nick Knowles was left “disappointed” to learn his show, DIY SOS, was being shelved after 27 years on air.

A BBC spokesperson said of the decision: “In light of the BBC’s savings challenges, we have taken the decision to rest DIY SOS in 2027 and commission a new spin-off show instead from producers South Shore.

“DIY SOS Rebuilt My Life will revisit successes from the show’s past and expand the brand on the BBC in a more cost-effective way next year.”

But it isn’t just Mr Knowles who has seen his show canned. Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo were among the casualties earlier this year.

In a statement at the time, the BBC said it was “incredibly proud of all three of these much-loved shows” and thanked the programmes’ production teams.

“Unfortunately, we have to make some really tough choices in light of our funding challenges, and these savings have been identified from the Entertainment genre,” it went on.

The cull didn’t stop there. LGBT-friendly dating shows I Kissed A Girl and I Kissed A Boy were both axed, as was RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

However, the corporation is still moving ahead with new content, after putting out a casting call aimed at 18-24-year-olds to take part in a “gender-fluid” new dating show.