Radio 4’s flagship Today programme was hosted by a single presenter for the first time yesterday as BBC spending cuts continue to bite.
Anna Foster, who would have traditionally co-hosted the programme with a colleague, presented the two-hour show on her own in the start of a new rota, which from now on will allocate just one presenter to the weekend edition.
A BBC insider who asked not to be named said: ‘The BBC has decided to use its presenters more in the drive to make savings.
‘The presenters are well paid, and the BBC wants to get its money’s worth.’
The changes to the presenting rota follow Amol Rajan‘s decision to quit the programme.
He presented his last edition on Wednesday, and the BBC has decided not to replace him, shrinking the roster of Today presenters from five to four.
The corporation has vowed to slash £500million from budgets over the next two years, which could lead to 2,000 job losses.
The BBC’s funding crisis is in part due to a massive fall in the number of people willing to pay the licence fee.
Anna Foster, pictured, presented the BBC’s Today programme by herself on Saturday
Figures released earlier this year show that just in excess of 23million households paid the annual £180 charge, down by 540,000 on the previous year.
One BBC source said Today might be forced to make further savings later in the year, adding: ‘Everyone is waiting for the next round of cuts, which will be announced in the autumn.’
Rajan, who will continue to present University Challenge, said last month the BBC’s dire financial situation would only get worse unless the Government came up with a plausible alternative to the licence fee.
A BBC spokesman declined to comment further and instead referred The Mail on Sunday to a previous statement about changes to schedules introduced in order to make savings.
