BBC to pull the curtain on HARDtalk, host Stephen Sackur criticises timing

 

 

Zim Now Writer

 HARDtalk, the BBC's interview program known for tough questioning, will end in March 2025 due to budget cuts. Presenter Stephen Sackur criticized the timing.

The BBC has announced plans to end HARDtalk, its long-running interview programme known for posing tough questions to world leaders, as part of broader budget cuts. Grappling with a deficit of £500 million, the BBC is hoping to reduce costs with 130 layoffs in its news division, with HARDtalk becoming its latest casualty.

 HARDtalk presenter Stephen Sackur shared his thoughts on the end of the show.(X/@stephensackur)

 The job cuts are part of a larger plan to lay off 500 employees, announced earlier this year by BBC Director General Tim Davie. In a recent speech, Davie called for increased government funding for global news through BBC World Service

However, HARDtalk presenter Stephen Sackur criticised Davie for sanctioning the end of the long-running interview show days after he appealed to the government to provide £50 million to fund the World Service, the Time reported.

 “Sad news for me”

English journalist Stephen Sackur, who has presented HARDtalk since 2005, took to the social media platform X to share his thoughts on the final curtain call for the in-depth interview show that first aired in 1997. He called it “depressing news” for those who believe in the importance of independent, well-researched journalism.