BBC is cutting up to 2,000 jobs as a result of major cost cuts

The BBC is to cut as many as 2,000 jobs, affecting 10% of its 21,500 workforce, in what is being described as the biggest downscaling in 15 years.

According to The Guardian, the broadcaster’s staff would be informed of the cuts at a staff meeting on Wednesday afternoon, with interim director general Rhodri Talfan Davies expected to announce the redundancies.

News of the cuts – which represent the biggest job losses at the BBC since 2011 – comes before Google chief executive Matt Brittin takes over as director general in May.

In February, the BBC unveiled a £600 million ($815 million) cost-cutting plan over the next three years and warned it would lead to job losses in addition to the reduction of some programmes. At the time, then-director-general Tim Davie said the BBC would have to shave around 10% from its annual cost base of around £6 billion ($8.1 billion).

Davie officially left the BBC on April 2 after announcing his resignation in November amid growing controversy over the corporation’s coverage of Gaza and Donald Trump, who said at the time he was suing the BBC, accusing him of rigging a speech.

“Over the past three years we have made more than half a billion pounds in savings, much of which we have been able to reinvest in our production at the BBC,” a spokesperson said in February.

“In a rapidly changing media market, we continue to face significant financial pressure. This is about the BBC becoming more productive and prioritizing our offering to audiences to ensure we provide the best value for money, now and in the future.”