Huw Edwards breaks silence on BBC job cuts with defiant champagne toast

16 April 2023 , 10:40

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Huw Edwards breaks silence on BBC job cuts with defiant champagne toast

Huw Edwards has broken his silence after being offered volunteered redundancy by his BBC bosses, amid claims the 'cash-strapped' broadcaster is looking to save millions.

The newsreader, who is on a yearly salary of around £410,000, was last night named as one of a string of well-known presenters who are said to have been served the paperwork.

Speaking out amid the furore this morning, Huw tweeted a cheeky photo of him supping champagne with his mother.

"Reality check. A standard HR exercise by BBC News," said Huw as he stood by his bosses.

Huw Edwards told his Twitter followers he's not concerned about the redundancy letters

"A standard invitation to consider applying for voluntary redundancy. Nothing more. As my mam says, don't believe everything in the papers," added the 61-year-old, as he raised a glass to the camera.

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Huw's comments come after it was reported he had been sent a letter offering him voluntary redundancy, with top-earning colleagues Clive Myrie and Sophie Raworth also being contacted.

After joining the beeb 40 years ago, Huw now takes home a pay cheque between £410,000 and £414,000, for presenting the six o'clock and ten o'clock bulletins.

Fellow presenter Myrie has been named in the £255,000 to £259,000 bracket while Raworth receives in the region of £305,000 and £309,999 a year.

Clive Myrie, who has reported from war-torn Ukraine over the last year, has also been offered the chance to walk (BBC)

The redundancy letters are said to be linked to strict cost-cutting measures spearheaded by Director General Tim Davie.

According to the Daily Mail, letters were sent out in early April asking if staff would consider 'potentially leaving the BBC under voluntary redundancy.'

A source told the paper: "The email is addressed to all senior news presenters and presenters and presenters on the band immediately below. Everyone got it on the same day."

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Presenters were said to have been given until last Friday to register their interest.

Edwards received one of the letters, despite recently signing a three year contract to stay with the Beeb.

A spokesperson for the BBC told the Mirror: “This isn’t about any new job cuts - it’s a standard HR exercise relating to savings we’ve announced previously - and it’s not targeting any individuals; we have to send it to everyone who’s at the same grade.

"We’re looking for expressions of interest in redundancy, not offering it, and it’s not the case that any or everyone who came forward would be accepted."

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