Victoria Derbyshire found out about her show being cancelled by reading the news.
The 51-year-old broadcaster – who has fronted the popular current affairs weekday programme on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel since 2015 – has opened up about the "devastating" announcement, and claimed she didn’t learn about the decision from TV bosses.
Taking to Twitter, she wrote: "Absolutely devastated at the plan to end our programme (which I first learned about in yesterday’s Times).
"I’m unbelievably proud of what our team and our show have achieved in under 5 years breaking tonnes of original stories (which we were asked to do); attracting a working class, young, diverse audience that BBC radio & TV news progs just don’t reach (which we were asked to do); & smashing the digital figures (which we were asked to do)…
"I’m gutted particularly for our brilliant, young, ambitious, talented team – love ’em. And for all those people we gave a voice to. Love them too. (sic)"
Her social media response comes after BBC News media editor Amol Rajan revealed the show is set to be axed in an apparent cost-cutting measure because the outlay for airing the show on a "linear channel" was "deemed too high".
He tweeted: "The Victoria Derbyshire Show is coming off air. I understand @BBCNews is committed to Victoria + the (award-winning) journalism of the show.
"Cost of doing it on linear channel when savings are needed deemed too high.
"BBC declined to comment ahead of an announcement next week (sic)"
Journalist Anna Collinson – who worked on the show – has described the decision as "gutting" in a social media statement.
She wrote: "It’s gutting this could mean the end of a young, talented, diverse team who are led by strong, female editors and a fantastic female presenter.
"It’s gutting for our viewers. The BBC is constantly criticised for failing underserved audiences. The same audiences we were proud to serve and served well.
Victoria Derbyshire learned of BBC axe plans in the news
