Yahoo News Huw Edwards speaks out on claims he has been offered voluntary redundancy by BBC
The 61-year-old newsreader is among news reporters who have received a letter asking them if they want to step down from their job.
Huw Edwards has dismissed reports he has been offered voluntary redundancy by the BBC as a "standard HR exercise".
Top news presenters including Clive Myrie, Sophie Raworth, Nick Robinson and Reeta Chakrabarti all received a letter from the corporation's interim managing editor of news and current affairs, Philippa Busby, asking them to consider voluntary redundancy, the Mail on Sunday reported.
Edwards, 61, tweeted a picture of himself drinking champagne with his mother and said: "Reality check. A standard HR exercise by @BBCNews (one of many over the years) is just that. A standard invitation to consider applying for voluntary redundancy. Nothing more. As my mam says, don't believe everything in the papers."
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It is understood all of the BBC's senior TV and radio news reporters received the letter from the Human Resources (HR) department as part of a drive to cut costs.
Reality check. A standard HR exercise by @BBCNews (one of many over the years) is just that. A standard invitation to consider applying for voluntary redundancy. Nothing more. As my mam says, don't believe everything in the papers. 🏴 pic.twitter.com/iahxq6SNip
— ℍ𝕦𝕨 𝔼𝕕𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 (@thehuwedwards) April 16, 2023
News readers Sophie Raworth, 54, and Reeta Chakrabarti, 58, have both retweeted Edwards' statement.
Political correspondent and presenter of Radio 4's Today programme Nick Robinson, 59, tweeted: "First newspapers call for cut to licence fee. Then same papers report shock at redundancies, closures or repeats. Later papers say licence fee now not value for money because of … BTW This is a routine offer of voluntary redundancy which no-one named here is likely to take up"
First newspapers call for cut to licence fee. Then same papers report shock at redundancies, closures or repeats. Later papers say licence fee now not value for money because of …
BTW This is a routine offer of voluntary redundancy which no-one named here is likely to take up https://t.co/JCMSBcv2NZ— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) April 16, 2023
News reporter and new host of Mastermind Myrie has not responded to the reports.
According to the Mail on Sunday the letter read: “As you will be aware, in 2022 we announced a number of changes across BBC News which have meant that some colleagues have been placed at risk of redundancy, including some colleagues in presenter roles.”
A BBC spokesperson said in a statement: “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.
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“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.”
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