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May 6, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

BBC to make 37 specialist factual staff redundant

By Press Gazette

The BBC is cutting 37 jobs from its specialist factual department in London and Bristol, claiming the broadcaster’s increase in programme commissions from the independent sector and its nations and regions division had rendered the in-house positions redundant, writes Wale Azeez.

The BBC also said the redundancies accounted for “less than five per cent” of the department’s total staff and were “mainly at producer level”.

The corporation claimed the job losses would not affect overall spending or commitment to factual programmes. The department was responsible for much of the forthcoming programming to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings on 6 June.

Keith Scholey, controller for specialist factual programmes, said the losses were needed to ensure viewers received “the best value for their licence fee”.

“We will try to achieve them through voluntary redundancies or redeployment within the wider BBC.”

Over the next few weeks, affected staff will be asked to state their preference for either remaining in their current job, redeployment or leaving the BBC, with a view to the process being completed by the end of the year.

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