BBC ‘throwing elderly under the bus’ with local radio cuts

The BBC is “throwing older people under the bus” by cutting local radio, MPS have warned the broadcaster.

The decision to strip stations of local programmes during afternoons, evenings and weekends, replacing them with shared regional or national shows, has dismayed many listeners.

In a hearing of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC’S director of nations, and Jason Horton, director of England, were asked to defend the changes.

They told the committee that funds were being “re-prioritised” to focus on online services rather than radio.

But Jane Stevenson, Tory MP for Wolverhampton North East, said: “You are throwing older people under a bus here, because online is disproportionately not going to benefit older people.

“These are not people who have grown up online, and may not be able to access the services that you’re now investing a lot more money in.”

Giles Watling, Tory MP for Clacton, suggested that the changes were “in danger of isolating those who are already isolated”, while Clive Efford, Labour MP for Eltham, said that the loss of familiar late-night shows “puts vulnerable listeners at risk” because they can be dependent on the companionships that local radio DJS provide.

Mr Talfan Davies defended the cuts and said that listeners could develop

‘How is it relevant for someone in Bognor Regis to hear that the District line is down?’

relationships with other presenters.

“I don’t think the fact that we might have two or three counties sharing, fundamentally alters our ability to connect and provide companionship to older audiences,” he said.

Simon Jupp, Tory MP for East Devon, accused the BBC of “ripping the heart out” of local radio.

Mr Jupp asked: “How is it relevant for someone in Bognor Regis to hear that the District line is down?”