The BBC is in the midst of a mass culling of its channels and series, across broadcast television and radio, with many popular shows being axed, among them Drag Race UK and Live at the Apollo. BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra linear broadcast services will also close in spring 2027 as part of cost-cutting measures, the corporation announced in October.
The BBC has come under pressure to make significant cuts in recent years, with the broadcaster reporting that its income from the £180 annual licence fee has fallen by a quarter over the past decade. The corporation currently faces pressure to make savings of £500m by 2028. In March, the corporation warned that its current funding model was “not sustainable and needs reform”, committing to exploring options around reforming the licence fee.
But which specific shows and channels have been affected?
BBC Three
The channel has since been responsible for major hits including Fleabag, Normal People and Killing Eve, but will no longer produce new content. Previously broadcast content from the channel, which is aimed at 16- to 34-year-olds, will be available on BBC iPlayer and on other platforms, including YouTube. It is not the first time BBC Three has been cut from linear TV. It returned as a fully fledged TV channel in January 2022, six years after it moved online. Matt Brittin, the BBC’s director general, said the corporation needed to “make every pound work harder for audiences as we respond to the immediate cost pressures and reinvent the BBC for a changing world”. He added: “We all know that means tough choices.”
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland’s viewership was reportedly seen as too low to justify the cost of keeping it on air. It will remain as a channel on BBC iPlayer, however, while its content will still be available on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland. BBC Scotland presenter Stephen Jardine has supported the cuts, explaining: “In this multi-channel age of streaming, broadcasting is changing at breakneck speed and with revenue tight, the BBC needs to adapt to keep up with that.”
BBC Radio 4 Extra
While Radio 4 Extra does air some original programming, its schedule is predominantly made up of archive content, so this doesn’t seem like an enormous loss in terms of content. The BBC has confirmed that some Radio 4 Extra programmes will still be available on BBC Sounds, and that its religious programme The Daily Service will continue on BBC Sounds and local radio.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (BBC One)
The popular UK edition of the US reality show is ending after eight years, with the BBC declaring in a statement that they “had to make some very difficult choices, none of which have been taken lightly”, adding: “The BBC is incredibly proud of all eleven series of this groundbreaking show and we would like to thank RuPaul, [production company] World of Wonder and everyone involved, both on and off screen.” World of Wonder announced they planned to pivot the show, as well as its spin-off series, to its streaming service, Wow Presents Plus, promising a “new era” for the franchise.
Live at the Apollo (BBC One)
Originally launched in 2004, the show saw comedians perform a stand-up set at London’s Hammersmith Apollo. It helped launch the careers of comedians including Jason Manford, Russell Howard and Michael McIntyre, and played host to established comedy veterans including Joan Rivers, Rob Brydon, Jo Brand and Julian Clary. One filmed series remains waiting in the wings for broadcast. Susie McCabe, a comedian who made her name on the series, called the decision “tragic”, adding: “Live at the Apollo was the pinnacle of British stand-up.”
Blankety Blank (BBC One)
Historically one of Britain’s longest-running game shows, Blankety Blank was brought back by the BBC in 2021, but will no longer be produced by the broadcaster. Presenter Bradley Walsh previously suggested he doesn’t “have the time” to film more editions of the show, saying: “It’s the most fun you can have in the studio, and I just cannot at the moment work on it.”
Celebrity Mastermind (BBC One)
One more series of the celebrity spin-off of Mastermind will be broadcast, and hosted by presenter Clive Myrie. It has run for 24 series, first airing as a special edition back in 2002.
You and Yours (BBC Radio 4)
The long-running consumer affairs programme began in 1970, and was among the Radio 4 shows named as part of BBC cull. Jonathan Wall, the director of BBC Sounds, said that it would be replaced by a show “designed to work both on air and on demand”, which will include original reporting, practical advice and content that holds organisations to account. But it is unclear how this actually differs from You and Yours, or whether its current presenter Winifred Robinson will be part of the new series.
The World Tonight and Midnight News (BBC Radio 4)
Both news programmes will be replaced from April 2027 by a news bulletin and simulcast of the BBC World Service programme Newshour. Launched in 1970 alongside You and Yours, The World Tonight is traditionally broadcast every weekday evening. Former host Robin Lustig said that he was “deeply saddened” by the decision, adding: “[The World Tonight] has been in BBC management’s sights for quite a while, so the decision comes as no surprise. At a time of snap judgments and widely disseminated disinformation, it is, if anything, more needed than ever before, I hope the BBC doesn’t come to regret its decision.”
Thinking Allowed, The Artificial Human and Free Thinking (BBC Radio 4)
Thinking Allowed covers the social sciences, The Artificial Human explores the rise of AI technology, and Free Thinking is one of Radio 4’s flagship arts programmes. Due to the cuts, they will be replaced by two weekly programmes which will be broadcast all year round and cover many of the same subjects. “By commissioning fewer programmes overall, we can focus our investment and make our best shows work across broadcast, on demand and different formats,” Jonathan Wall has explained.
Open Country (BBC Radio 4)
This countryside magazine show explores the rural landscapes and wildlife of Britain, along with the people who populate these places. While it was sacrificed in the BBC cuts, the broadcaster has confirmed that the weekend edition of Farming Today will be expanded.
Crossing Continents (BBC Radio 4)
Focusing on foreign affairs reporting, Crossing Continents was one of the first BBC Radio 4 shows to be axed this year. Former BBC foreign correspondent Hugh Sykes was saddened by the decision, writing on Bluesky that “the end of Crossing Continents leaves Radio 4 with no scheduled foreign affairs outlet other than From Our Own Correspondent, which is a collection of ‘talks’, not on-the-ground reporting.”
Money Box Live (BBC Radio 4)
The mid-week call-in show did not survive the BBC cuts, with presenter Felicity Hannah writing on Bluesky that she was “heartbroken”. “Money Box Live has been the standout and most beloved part of my entire career,” she wrote. “We have served so many communities, told so many stories and explained so many issues.” The original Saturday Money Box show presented by Paul Lewis will remain, however.
AntiSocial (BBC Radio 4) and The Law Show (BBC Radio 4)
Both programmes – one which unpacks the culture wars and the other giving analysis about high-profile law rulings – will no longer be produced.
Breakfast on Sunday (BBC One)
The Sunday edition of BBC Breakfast was one of the first shows to be axed, airing its final episode in July. It was replaced by a live simulcast of the BBC News channel.
The Catch Up (BBC Three)
The nightly news bulletin aimed at Gen Z’s has been axed, despite the corporation’s director of news Rachel Jupp warning in October that the BBC needs to “adapt urgently” to win over young audiences when it comes to news content. In an email seen by Deadline, Jupp wrote: “People are changing how they get their news and too many of them, particularly younger audiences, aren’t finding us.”
BBC sports bulletins (BBC News)
The BBC will no longer include sports bulletins during its TV news coverage, with sources telling The Guardian that senior BBC figures “believe that many sports fans have already seen crucial goals and developments on social media long before they appear on bulletins”. Philippa Childs, the head of the broadcasting union Bectu, said that “cuts will have a direct impact on what sport the BBC can cover and the worry is that the quality and breadth of coverage will suffer as a result.”
Read MoreBBC Three gave us Fleabag and the best shows on TV. Axing it is short-termist madness
Strictly judge to waltz onto US counterpart Dancing with the Stars
BBC to axe key TV channels in cost-cutting drive
Celebrity Traitors series 2 launch smashes 2026 TV records with 15 million viewers
BBC ‘actively considering’ Vittorio Angelone row after sitcom star’s rape remark
