The BBC has confirmed that it will be scaling back on original Radio 5Live programming from next week in order to 'prioritise resources' during the coronavirus outbreak.
An increasing number of the UK population are isolating at home due to the spread of the deadly disease, affecting the staffing levels across the BBC.
In a statement this afternoon, the corporation confirmed: "We need to be realistic about the significant pressure COVID-19 has on our staff and continue to prioritise our resources, including in our news output across BBC radio. This way we can provide the best possible service for our audiences, who at these extraordinary times count on us in so many ways.
"We have already started sharing the radio news summaries across our stations. From Monday, in the evenings Radio 5 live will join up with Radio 4 for two hours at 4.30pm for the extended PM programme and the Six O'Clock News. Overnight, 5 live will take the overnight news programme from World Service between 1-5am.
"This decision allows us to keep our other distinctive 5 live news programmes going for our listeners."
On TV, production has been suspended on shows such as EastEnders and Call The Midwife, while Question Time has dropped its studio audience and been moved into a primetime slot.
Neil Wilkes
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