Huw Edwards has laughed off reports that the BBC has sent redundancy letters to some of its most famous news presenters. He posted a picture of himself raising a glass of bubbly and dismissed the reports as a "standard HR exercise".
The BBC is looking for expressions of interest in redundancy and it is understood letters were sent to all senior TV and radio presenters including the likes of Huw, Reeta Chakrabarti, Clive Myrie and Sophie Raworth.
But sharing a picture of himself raising a glass of bubbles alongside his mum, Aerona Protheroe, the Llanelli-born presenter said it was time for a "reality check" and added that it was a "standard HR exercise" by BBC News, one of many over the years. He wrote: "A standard invitation to consider applying for voluntary redundancy. Nothing more. As my mam says, don't believe everything in the papers."
The expressions of interest in redundancy letters have been linked to cost-cutting measures announced by director-general Tim Davie last year. As part of these plans, the corporation has already merged the BBC News channel and its international counterpart BBC World News to create a new, more digitally focused channel.
The Mail on Sunday said the letter from the interim managing editor of news and current affairs had been sent to senior figures on BBC One, as well as some of Radio 4's biggest names, including Nick Robinson and Justin Webb, who host the Today programme. The letter asks staff who 'would like to consider potentially leaving the BBC under voluntary redundancy' to arrange a meeting with HR. The Mail quoted a source as saying "senior figures in TV news, including Huw Edwards, Sophie Raworth, Clive Myrie and Reeta Chakrabarti, have received the letter. It's also been sent to the main presenters on Radio 4's Today programme".
A BBC spokesperson said: "This isn’t about any new job cuts - it’s a standard HR exercise relating to savings we’ve announced previously - and it’s not targeting any individuals; we have to send it to everyone who’s at the same grade. We’re looking for expressions of interest in redundancy, not offering it, and it’s not the case that any or everyone who came forward would be accepted."
Read next:
- Delivery driver hit by his own van dies two weeks after incident
-
The dates Wales' most notorious criminals are set to be released from prison
- Man charged with rape after serious sexual assault outside pub
- Inside the police forensic lab where experts work to solve Wales' most brutal crimes
- 'I reported my husband after discovering he is a paedophile'
