BBC axes three iconic Entertainment Shows as £500m cost-cutting plan hits TV lineup
Three iconic entertainment shows have been axed by the BBC as the corporation attempts to save millions of pounds in spending.
BBC Content is wielding the axe on several beloved entertainment staples as part of a sweeping, multi-million-pound austerity drive.
The broadcaster has officially confirmed that game show classic Blankety Blank, flagship comedy showcase Live at the Apollo, and quiz spin-off Celebrity Mastermind have all been cancelled.
While regular Mastermind—hosted by Clive Myrie—will remain on air, both Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo have one remaining final series left to broadcast before taking their final bow.
At a Glance: What’s Changing
Cancelled Shows: Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, and Live at the Apollo will not return for future commissions.
Still Airing: Both Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo still have one final, previously produced series set to air.
Safe for Now: The flagship civilian edition of Mastermind, hosted by Clive Myrie, will continue uninterrupted.
The Reason: Part of a massive £500m BBC-wide savings initiative aimed at offsetting frozen license fee income and rising inflation.
Inside the BBC’s £500 Million Savings Push
The decision to pull the plug on these high-profile titles marks one of the most visible casualties yet of the BBC’s aggressive cost-cutting strategy under Director-General Matt Brittin.
In a statement addressing the cancellations, a BBC spokesperson acknowledged the painful nature of the decisions:
“We are incredibly proud of all three of these much-loved shows and would like to thank everyone involved, both in front of and behind the camera, for bringing them to screen and making them such a success over many years. Unfortunately, we have to make some really tough choices in light of our funding challenges, and these savings have been identified from the Entertainment genre.”
The cuts form the first wave of a wider proposal to strip £500 million out of the broadcaster’s overall budget over the next three years.
As part of this effort:
£100 Million Content Reduction: BBC Content is tasked with delivering at least £100 million in recurring annual savings.
Fewer Original TV Hours: The content savings will force a reduction of 100 to 150 hours of original TV programming across genres by 2027/28.
Wider Job Cuts: The corporate restructuring includes up to 2,000 job cuts across news, corporate, and content departments over the next three years.
Pivot to Digital & What Comes Next
Despite the heavy blows to linear television programming, the BBC insisted it remains committed to original entertainment and independent UK production companies.
To soften the blow to the comedy sector—which relies heavily on Live at the Apollo as a career stepping stone for rising stand-ups—the BBC hinted at a pivot toward lower-cost digital platforms:
“We will still continue to commission ambitious Entertainment shows and invest in distinctive UK content from a wide range of independent production companies of all sizes, as well as prioritising digital innovation that can serve fans of these shows and beyond — for example, we will shortly be announcing digital plans focused on stand-up and emerging comedy talent, ensuring we continue to support the stand-up community in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive media landscape.”
More cancellations and budget reductions across the BBC’s Content division are expected to be announced in the coming months.
Earlier this year we revealed talks are underway to cut the number of EastEnders episodes each week from four to three.
Get full access to The Version for just £5 / $6.44 per month!
We’d love you to have full access to The Version. It helps with our running costs and supports independent journalism. Subscribe below.
Claim 65% off at Gousto and feed your family for less
In the UK? Claim a massive 65% off at Gousto and eat for less this week.