The BBC has cancelled Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, and Live at the Apollo. These cuts fall under the entertainment genre. Mastermind, hosted by Clive Myrie, will remain in production. Both Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo have one remaining series to broadcast before they end.
These cancellations are part of a first phase of proposals to achieve £500 million in savings over the next three years. BBC Content has a specific target to deliver a minimum of £100 million in recurring annual savings. This financial mandate will result in a reduction of between 100 and 150 hours of originated television programming across all genres by the end of the 2027/28 financial year.
The corporation will continue to commission entertainment content from independent production companies. The BBC will also introduce digital plans focused on stand up and emerging comedy talent. Further savings within the BBC Content division are scheduled for announcement in the coming months.
The reduction in originated hours is a direct result of the identified funding challenges within the corporation. The BBC has committed to a total saving of £500 million over a three year period.