BBC East Midlands Today broadcasts have not been running due to "significant staff disruption caused by Covid". The late bulletin from Nottingham was abruptly pulled by the corporation half an hour before it was due to be broadcast on Wednesday night, March 23, and its breakfast bulletin also did not run on Thursday, March 24.
The broadcasting company says its normal service will resume "as soon as possible" - it hopes to be back across this region starting next week. Until then, breakfast bulletins will be shared from Birmingham across the entire Midlands area. When presenting on Wednesday night, presenter Mary Rhodes said: "Welcome to viewers in the West and East Midlands."
A BBC spokesperson said: "Like employers in every area of the economy, we’re seeing significant staff disruption caused by Covid. Apart from a few exceptions, we have maintained our normal service, which will resume as soon as possible."
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In a tweet, East Midlands Today said: "On Thursday and Friday we will be sharing breakfast bulletins from Birmingham across the Midlands. This is a temporary measure and our early bulletins should be back on air from the East Midlands next week."
Some viewers responded by saying they were unhappy with the decision to broadcast from Birmingham as they had tuned in hoping for news more local to them. Phil tweeted: "Why from Birmingham? That has little relevance to us in East Midlands. London would make more sense as at least we go for days and nights out there."
Chris Platkiw said: "An all too common occurrence. It has been difficult to watch the erosion of this once great service. Fewer presenters may have been a COVID response but these cancellations are happening far too often now. And I don’t want the alternative."
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