‎The BBC has announced it will cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs meaning almost one in 10, a decision to tackle what referred to "significant financial pressures".

‎This decision aims at making £500m savings over the next two years.

‎Interim Director General Rhodri Talfan Davies did not dismiss the possibility of shutting down entire channels or services.

‎"We need to look at everything, and at a scale of £500m inevitably there are going to be some big and some difficult choices, but we do need to step through this carefully," he told BBC Radio 4's Media Show.

‎He added that the corporation will share more details later this year about how its services may be impacted.

‎"For audiences, the job in hand now over the next three or four months is to work through how we make those changes without damaging the services that we know are critical to the BBC across radio and television and online," he said.

‎According to Philippa Childs, head of the broadcasting union Bectu, cuts of such magnitude would prove devastating for employees and for the BBC overall. 

‎In an email to staff on Wednesday, Talfan Davies said: "As you know, the BBC is facing significant financial pressures, which we need to respond to with pace.

‎"Put simply, the gap between our costs and our income is growing. This is being driven by a number of factors: production inflation remains very high; our licence fee and commercial income is under pressure; and the global economy remains turbulent."

‎In addition, he tightened regulations governing expenditure on recruitment, travel, consultancy services, and involvement in conferences, awards, and events. 

‎The BBC is currently negotiating with the government about its future, and that of the licence fee, ahead of the renewal of its royal charter at the end of 2027.

‎Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the BBC, "like every institution", has to make "difficult decisions".

‎"That is something that I know the leadership of the BBC take very seriously, including exploring commercial options and other revenue raisers that can help to sustain the BBC's finances," she told Radio 4's World at One programme shortly before the announcement.

‎Currently, The BBC has about 21,500 full time equivalent employees.

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