BBC is about to 'betray pensioners' with bombshell move

BBC is about to 'betray pensioners' with bombshell move Janet Street-Porter claims the BBC is "making life harder" for its "core audience". Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Jess Phillips , Deputy Showbiz Editor 09:07, Thu, Oct 22, 2026 Updated: 11:32, Thu, Oct 22, 2026 The BBC has announced more cuts (Image: Getty) Loose Women panellist Janet Street-Porter has fumed that the BBC is set to “betray pensioners” with its latest bombshell move. She fumed in a new column for The i paper that the corporation’s decision to “attract new, younger audiences” with more money poured into BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds app rather than into its programming budgets. Along with complaining that several legendary shows – including Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo – have been “culled” and promising there will be “many more” still to come, Janet said the BBC is letting down its “core, loyal audience” with its plan to transition to online-only broadcasting over the next decade. The BBC and other broadcasters are beginning to switch to streaming rather than sending broadcasts via aerial, which Janet says will affect those with “limited digital skills”. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT She said: “The BBC seems reluctant to admit that their most loyal fans – their core consumers – are mostly over 60. “However smooth it might try to make the experience, going online simply isn’t as easy as flicking on the TV or radio. It is eating away at what the BBC does best too. Get reviews, gossip and upcoming show releases plus selected offers and competition I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . “I love classical music and already find BBC Sounds very irritating – too much material is repackaged as if I am stupid and can’t listen to a concert in its entirety. News and classical music is being hacked into bite-sized chunks as if I haven’t got the concentration to consume the original output unedited.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT She went on to argue that seeing programmes “interspersed with advertising and branding” in the BBC’s “endless self-promotion” is irritating. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Fox News halts for breaking Trump alert after president completely loses it on air Prince Harry dealt humiliating blow after Charles and William bombshell Janet Street-Porter was not happy (Image: Getty) Janet argued that the BBC’s choice to expand its digital offerings will be “aimed at people half a century younger than me”, which she claims is “pointless”. She added: “The BBC must accept that its core audience are old, unfashionable, set in their ways and not particularly tech-savvy. But they are loyal in a way that the 20-year-olds of today will never be.” The BBC announced this week that it will close three of its linear broadcast channels – BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra – a ll of which will become streaming-only . Express.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment. BBC Loose Women BBC iPlayer Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments