5 live affected by BBC journalists strike

BBC Radio 5 live’s regular overnight schedule beginning Monday has been replaced by a number of pre-recorded programmes instead of Up All Night.

Normally, Stephen Nolan is on-air till 1am but he finished at midnight, which signified the official start of the strike by journalists at the corporation. Up All Night, which normally airs from 1 till 5am with Dotun Adebayo, is also replaced.

Instead, pre-recorded shows such as the New Year Men’s Hour special, a Christmas special on Hillsborough and a documentary on how homeless people survive in sub-zero temperatures are broadcast.

Also, there’s no Morning Reports in the usual 5am slot.

8AM UPDATE: Nicky Campbell is absent from 5 live Breakfast, Ian Payne presenting the show instead with Clare McDonnell.

BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme and other news-based programmes are also being replaced with pre-recorded programmes.

The World at 1 and PM has also been cancelled.

Programmes on other stations, including Local Radio, will also be replaced or networked to deal with striking staff.

The strike action is being taken by the National Union of Journalists after failing to reach an agreement with management over the redeployment of 30 staff members facing compulsory redundancy. Some of the compulsory redundancies have been threatened at 5 live, the Asian Network and the World Service.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary said: “NUJ members across the BBC are taking action to defend jobs and quality journalism at the corporation. They are angry and frustrated at the poor decisions being taken at the top of the BBC – decisions that are leading to journalists being forced out of their jobs and quality journalism and programming compromised.

“Instead of making sure that the redeployment process works properly in all areas of the BBC, managers are prepared to waste public money on needless redundancies and sacrifice the livelihoods of experienced and talented journalists, at the same time as advertising other jobs externally. It’s particularly disappointing that the BBC has failed to engage meaningfully in attempts to resolve this dispute – an abdication ofresponsibility for a public service broadcaster.”

The BBC released this statement at 6am: We are disappointed that the NUJ has gone ahead with today’s strike and apologise to our audience for the disruption to services.

“Unfortunately industrial action does not alter the fact that the BBC has significant savings targets and as a consequence may have to make a number of compulsory redundancies. We have made considerable progress in reducing the need for compulsory redundancies through volunteers, redeployment and cancelling vacant positions and we will continue with these efforts.”