Host of HARDtalk announces show axing after 30 years (Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeBBC’s HARDtalk, a staple in hard-hitting journalism, is facing its final curtain call after an impressive three-decade run. The programme has fallen victim to the latest round of layoffs at the BBC, with 130 roles being slashed in the news division. The news comes after an announcement earlier in the year when Director General Tim Davie had announced a 500-person workforce reduction. Upon receiving the update, face of HARDtalk since 2005, Stephen Sackur, expressed his feelings on Twitter. He wrote: “PERSONAL NEWS: Today BBC News has announced plans to close @BBCHARDtalk after 3 decades of holding the world’s politicians and powerbrokers to account.”
Stephen Sackur announced the axing of HARDtalk on social media
(Image: BBC)
Stephen’s tweet didn’t end there; he added, “This is sad news for me personally, but much more important, I think it’s depressing news for the BBC and all who believe in the importance of independent, rigorous deeply-researched journalism. At a time when disinformation and media manipulation are poisoning public discourse HARDtalk is unique – a long-form interview show with only one mission.” He lamented further, adding to the series of tweets, “To hold to account those who all too often avoid accountability in their own countries. Anyone who has seen our interviews with Hugo Chavez, Sergei Lavrov, Meles Zenawi, Lula, Nancy Pelosi, Recep Tayep Erdogan, Emmanuel Macron, Imran Khan, Olusegan Abasanjo, and countless others over the years will know HARDtalk was never just another news show.”, reports the Mirror.
HARDtalk is being axed after three decades on air
The host of HARDtalk, Stephen, spoke out as the show is set to end after a quarter of a century. “A brilliant team of producers and researchers is being disbanded just as BBC DG Tim Davie is trying to persuade the British Govt that the journalism of the BBC World Service is such a vital expression of democratic soft power that the taxpayer must fund it. Whatever the outcome of that, it seems it will be too late to save HARDtalk – for so long a pillar of the World Service schedule.” Stephen shared his experience and future plans, stating that he felt “enormously fortunate” to have a career with the BBC. He also revealed his plans to “embrace new opportunities” after the axing, but expressed that his “commitment” to world affair won’t change. He acknowledged the upcoming end of an era as it was revealed HARDtalk will concludes in five months time. The show first aired in 1997, marks yet another casualty of budget reductions at the broadcasting company.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnIn the News
