BBC factual programme-making axed in Birmingham

Factual programming for BBC Birmingham is to leave the West Midlands. Programmes such as the Hairy Bikers, Countryfile and the coverage of the RHS flower shows will move from the Mailbox to BBC sites in Bristol and Cardiff. The move was outlined as part of a briefing to BBC staff about changes to the way the organisation is run under. It is not known how many jobs will be lost in the move although staff at BBC radio stations in the West Midlands have been told posts will go. Radio WM has been told 11 posts will go at the station. It is thought about seven posts will go at BBC Radio Stoke and eight at BBC Hereford and Worcester. BBC Radio Shropshire will lose about 8.5 posts and BBC Coventry and Warwickshire will lose about seven. A report on the changes states: "Factual programming for BBC television and Radio 4 would be moved out of Birmingham and consolidated largely to Bristol and Cardiff, though television production investment with independent producers in the Midlands would increase. "Substantial network television drama (e.g., Doctors, Land Girls) and radio drama (The Archers) would continue in Birmingham alongside the BBC's local and regional services." Director General Mark Thompson unveiled details of the cuts - branded Delivering Quality First (DQF) - in an address to staff earlier. Staff at Midlands Today were also told the programme would only have one weather presenter with the weather staffed partly from a regional hub in Nottingham. Bulletins at 15:00 BST and on a Saturday lunchtime would be lost and in general the programme would share more resources with network television. Michelle Paduano, NUJ representative for Midlands Today, said: "My first thought is it's a sad day for the BBC. "There's no way we're going to maintain the same level of quality with this level of cuts. "The public will notice the difference." BBC Birmingham has been based at The Mailbox shopping centre since 2004. For 32 years before that it was based at Pebble Mill, in Edgbaston, but in early 2004 production moved to the Mailbox in the city centre.