BBC cuts: Victoria Derbyshire accuses corporation of unclear targets

Petition calling for corporation to reverse decision receives more than 30,000 signatures

Victoria Derbyshire has attacked the BBC for claiming it is cutting her show because it failed to increase its live audience.

The corporation announced on Wednesday it is cutting 450 jobs as part of plans to reduce costs and “modernise” its newsroom.

Plans to end the presenter’s BBC Two programme were leaked last week, with the host saying she was “absolutely devastated”.

Shortly after the announcement on Wednesday, Derbyshire tweeted: “We were NEVER asked to grow the linear TV audience. Ever. We were asked to grow our digital audience – we did – our digi figures are huge (our successful digital figures appear to be an inconvenience to those making the decisions).”

She added: “Our remit when we were set up: 1. Original journalism 2. Reaching underserved audiences 3. Growing the digital figures. We achieved all 3.”

Derbyshire live-tweeted from the BBC announcement about cuts to the newsroom, which are part of plans to save £80m to reduce financial pressures on the corporation.

She said: “Head of internal comms just said to us all, ‘enjoy and relax’.”

When Fran Unsworth, the director of news and current affairs at the BBC, arrived, Derbyshire tweeted: “Fran Unsworth arrives ... ‘Cheery’ music in room like you hear when you’re put on hold.”

Derbyshire reportedly used the announcement meeting to confront Ms Unsworth about the decision to axe her show.

A petition calling for the BBC to reverse its position and save the programme has received more than 30,000 signatures.

It comes as the BBC announced jobs cuts would be seen at shows such as Newsnight and radio stations, including Radio 5 Live.

The corporation also said there would be a review of “the number of presenters we have and how they work”.

Ms Unsworth said: “The BBC has to face up to the changing way audiences are using us.

“We need to reshape BBC News for the next decade in a way which saves substantial amounts of money. We are spending too much of our resources on traditional linear broadcasting and not enough on digital.

“Our duty as a publicly funded broadcaster is to inform, educate and entertain every citizen. But there are many people in this country that we are not serving well enough.”