British daytime programme Victoria Derbyshire – revered for its consistent reporting of LGBT+ issues over the years – has been axed as part of BBC cost cutting measures.
From reporting of the lives of trans children to LGBT-inclusive education, the live BBC2 show has entertained and informed the public since it first aired in 2015.
However, the broadcaster confirmed the show's cancellation as the costs of running the show were "deemed too high", BBC media editor Amol Rajan said.
The titular journalist herself, Victoria Derbyshire, responded to the show's closure today live on air. Declaring that she and her team "don't give up".
Why is the Victoria Derbyshire show being shut down?
While an exact cut-off date has yet to be confirmed, efforts to save license fee payer's money has been cited by management. Especially after the show's run time was cut from two to one hour.
https://twitter.com/amolrajan/status/1220044917176664065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1220060332414074887&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fentertainment-arts-51214425
Rajan took to Twitter to confirm the show being dropped, and added: "I understand BBC News 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."
He continued: “The show won awards at the RTS and from BAFTA.
"Victoria nominated for 'Best Presenter' four years in a row – and won once.
"Digital impact was huge. Show was designed to reach audiences the BBC struggles to connect with, and it did – online."
Presenting the show today , Derbyshire said: "We are still here, telling your stories and covering the issues that are important to you in your life."
"And you know what? We don't give up."
BBC2 show being taken off air is 'gutting' and 'devastating'.
Whether parents just coming back from the school run to commuters catching up on the news, the Victoria Derbyshire show has been a crucial way to platform LGBT+ topics to wider audiences.
The show, which has won two PinkNews awards including 'Broadcaster of the Year' in 2015, being cancelled prompted outcry from public figures.
https://twitter.com/jim_reed/status/1220086412646715392
https://twitter.com/jessphillips/status/1220084908627910656
https://twitter.com/emmaailes/status/1220067856316014592
https://twitter.com/ianbirrell/status/1220254140011433986
Queer Buzzfeed journalist Patrick Strudwick praised the show for breaking "LGBT stories", while cutting into the reason why it was cancelled.
https://twitter.com/PatrickStrud/status/1220277197518311430
While viewers mourned the loss of a current affairs show that told queer stories not usually spoken on such a major platform.
https://twitter.com/t61wathern/status/1220064455805018113
Victoria Derbyshire's demise comes after the show spotlighted several queer issues.
Only recently, the show spoke to Charlie Grahame , a queer 20-year-old attacked five times for her sexuality.
It's also raised the profile of the prolific use of the drug GHB among queer men, the use of homophobic slang by British prime minster Boris Johnson , campaigns to battle HIV in among south Asian men and gave airtime to LGBT+ activists during the debate for inclusive education.
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