BBC cutting 10 minutes off News at Ten in bid to woo younger viewers

Corporation plans to end three-year experiment with extended bulletin

Huw Edwards has presented BBC's News at Ten since 2003 (BBC)

BBC News at Ten is to be cut by more than 10 minutes in an attempt to attract younger viewers and boost ratings, according to reports.

The flagship programme was extended from 35 minutes to 45 minutes three years ago with the aim of providing “even more news analysis and explanation”.

But it now appears the corporation is planning to abandon the experiment as the audience for BBC News continues to decline.

According to The Sunday Times, five minutes would be cut from the national news, four minutes from regional news and 90 seconds from the weather.

It claimed that the BBC’s director of news and current affairs, Fran Unsworth, has accepted the plans, which could by put into action as early as next month with the aim of reaching younger audiences and retaining viewers for the next programme.

Former BBC news presenter Peter Sissons told the Times that the decision was a “breach of their public duty”, adding: “There has never been more important news running in peacetime.

“They are in the business of public service, not competing for ratings.”

There has been a steady decline in audiences for BBC TV news since 2010, particularly among young people, according to regulator Ofcom.

The proportion of adults aged 16-to-24 watching the news each week fell from 37 per cent to 27 per cent, while for those aged 65 and over it remained at around 87 per cent.

While the BBC has not issued an official statement on the reported cut to News at Ten, the Times quoted a source as saying it was “sensible to explore all options”.

It comes as Labour deputy leader Tom Watson urged the prime minister not to scrap free TV licences for the over 75s when the scheme ends in 2020.

He warned Theresa May that getting rid of the benefit would represent a ”huge financial blow” to millions of pensioners and breach a Conservative general election manifesto pledge.

The government has already confirmed the cost of a licence is to rise from £150.50 a year to £154.50 from April.

Additional reporting by Press Association