Coronavirus: Question Time axes studio audience as BBC scales back operations during outbreak

Panel will answer questions sent in on social media

'These are unprecedented and dangerous days,' says BBC director of news Fran Unsworth (PA)

BBC's Question Time will be filmed without an audience as the public broadcaster scales back some of its news programmes during the coronavirus outbreaks.

The programme will instead ask viewers to send in their queries for the panel on social media to answer during the live broadcast from 8pm on Thursday.

As part of the cutbacks, the BBC News Channel will replace some scheduled programmes on on BBC Two, including Politics Live and Victoria Derbyshire.

The Andrew Neil Show, Newswatch, The Travel Show and Hardtalk are being suspended.

“These are unprecedented and difficult days,” said Fran Unsworth, the broadcaster’s director of news.

“Trusted, accurate information is vital in a public health emergency and the BBC has a key role to play.

“We will continue offering our audience continuous news service on TV, radio and online but this will look a bit different in the weeks ahead.

“Like many organisations we are unable to have all our staff on site due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“We are therefore making some changes to what we do to streamline our output to ensure we can work with fewer people and protect the staff who are at work.”

Newsnight and The Andrew Marr Show will remain on air but with fewer technical staff, while the BBC’s Newscast podcast will change into a daily edition of The Coronavirus Podcast.

Americast, Beyond Today and The Next Episode will be suspended.

The BBC said it could protect most of its regular radio output but was keeping the situation “under close review”.

The World This Week on World Service English will be suspended from tomorrow, while World Update and Weekend will be suspended from next week.

BBC Radio 4’s The Week In Westminster will be suspended after 21 March.

As for its digital services, the broadcaster said: “We will be making some changes to the way our teams are organised to sustain these vital services – and to ensure we can distribute important information via social media.”

Additional reporting by Press Association