David Parkin on what cuts the BBC really should make, remembering Big Jack and why a ponytail could be the secret to Wigan success

WHAT is it about the BBC?

It’s nickname is Auntie, which apparently dates back to the 1950s and was used to contrast the state broadcaster’s prudish, cosy, refined image with that of the much brasher ITV.

I don’t know about a prudish maiden aunt, the BBC today reminds me more of a rebellious teenager.

You know the one.

They do something really thoughtful one moment and then act completely brainless the next.

And don’t appear to show any interest in learning from their mistakes.

That pretty much sums up most teenagers doesn’t it?

And the current approach of the BBC.

During lockdown viewers and listeners have increasingly turned to the BBC for their trusted local and national news.

That authoritative, balanced approach - coupled with the warmth and familiarity of presenters and radio hosts at a time when we have all been spending a lot more time at home, has brought a much closer connection for many of us with the Beeb.

Having re-established its reassuring reputation for reliability at a time when uncertainty abounds and claims of ‘fake news’ have never been louder,what does it then decide to do?

It announced that it is to cut 50 jobs in its English regional TV news and current affairs, local radio and online news operations.

Among the cuts, seven of the 20 presenters on 6.30pm regional TV bulletins will be axed, and some local radio shows will be chopped too.

Regional investigative journalism TV programme Inside Out will be replaced by a new show, which will have six regional editions instead of the previous 11.

The cuts are expected to save ￡25m by 2022, and follow news of job losses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The BBC has previously said it must save ￡125m this year because of financial pressures resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

And apparently the cuts announced this month are on top of 450 redundancies previously announced - and subsequently put on hold - by BBC News.

I know our national broadcaster has been under a great deal of political pressure to cut budgets, but now seems a particularly bizarre time to do it.

Surely the time to assess what resources can be let go and which ones are essential are in a few months time when the BBC’s powers that be can reflect on operating through a period which has been unique and which we all hope will never be repeated.

But no.

The BBC has decided that regional TV and online news teams will be merged, and there will no longer be an online editorial hub in Birmingham.

In its 39 local radio stations, the "simplified" schedule that was introduced when the pandemic began in March will be made permanent.

The stations previously often had different programme schedules, but each will now have three daytime shows with one presenter. Any shows with two hosts will go down to one.

The 11 regional Sunday morning political programmes, which have been replaced during the coronavirus pandemic by a single show, will all return but will undergo a "creative review".

What does that mean?

Well you get an idea of the thought processes around all this when you read the words of Helen Thomas, the director of BBC England.

The former head of the BBC in Yorkshire said the corporation's local and regional services were created more than 50 years ago, and "have changed very little and need significant reinvention".

She said: "That has meant taking some difficult decisions.

"We are in the age of the Facebook community group and the WhatsApp neighbourhood chat. We must adapt to better reflect how people live their lives, how they get their news and what content they want.

"We're going to modernise our offer to audiences in England by making digital a central part of everything we do. We'll take forward lessons from Covid-19 that will make us more agile and more in touch with communities while also ensuring we're as efficient as we can be.

"I'm confident we can evolve our local and regional services while improving our impact and better serving our audiences."

I’m not.

Her words mirror what the BBC is doing in many other areas.

It is an obsession with attracting a younger audience.

Whether it is adding a “street” version of Match of the Day, axing experienced and engaging sports presenters for babbling dimwits who have nothing of interest to say or sticking gormless YouTubers in the Strictly Come Dancing line-up, the BBC is desperate to woo a younger audience.

It is a race to the bottom in my opinion.

And if you don’t believe me then listen to about 30 seconds of the BBC’s Gemma Collins Podcast.

The larger than life former “star” of The Only Way Is Essex does a regular show for our national broadcaster that makes The One Show look like Panorama.

In fact I can save you the trouble of listening to it by giving you a couple of names of the podcast episodes from the character who calls herself “The GC”.

“Love don’t cost a thing, J.Lo girl, you was right.”

“I could have washed 10 million towels with all the water in my body.”

What’s that noise?

Well if it isn’t the GC doing her podcast it must be the body of Lord Reith spinning in its grave.

Look, I know the BBC has a duty to broadcast programmes that appeal right across the age and social strata brackets in the UK.

But surely it has missed the bus when it comes to competing for the time of young people?

They are all on YouTube, Tik Tok and Snapchat already and it will be an impossible task to get them off it - ask any parent.

BBC England director Helen Thomas might think she has the answer, but she’s just creating a lot more questions, if you ask me.

The Beeb says its new cuts will save ￡25m over two years.

How much of that could be recouped by cutting the budget of The One Show and its shouty, cheery but empty-brained presenters?

Or making changes to Match of the Day with the dull Gary Lineker and his golf pals?

Or reducing the glitter budget on Strictly Come Dancing and the money it wastes on its Halloween and Blackpool episodes.

Based on my last experience of the seaside resort, I’d say the two are interchangeable anyway.

And despite some of the exemplary journalism and broadcasting delivered by the BBC during the coronavirus pandemic, you know that there will be a big bunch of BBC apparatchiks who will view the corporation’s crowning achievement this year as introducing the first same sex couple to dance on Strictly.

At the same time that all these cuts are scheduled the BBC then announced that over 75s will have to pay for their TV licences again.

It delayed the plan to end free TV licences for most over-75s because of the pandemic.

The decision means that more than three million households will be asked to start paying the ￡157.50 fee from the start of August.

Only those who receive the Pension Credit benefit will be exempt.

The BBC said the new scheme is "the fairest decision", but the government said it was "the wrong decision" and Age UK called it "a kick in the teeth".

What puzzles me is that it comes as the BBC is making deep and damaging cuts to the very services this age group appreciate and rely on the most - local news and radio programmes.

Social media has been a useful tool to help connect communities over the extraordinary last few months.

But Tik Tok, Snapchat, Whatsapp and Facebook groups are no substitute for face-to face contact or a trusted voice or face dropping in via your TV or radio to tell you what is happening.

I don’t expect anyone at the BBC to be listening.

Perhaps the nickname ‘Auntie’ is still relevant for our national broadcaster - because it always thinks it knows best.

For what it’s worth, I’d suggest the BBC focuses on doing what it does best.

It should concentrate on providing news and sport in a grown up way.

In that way it will engage a huge audience today and today’s young people tomorrow.

Because by the time the BBC has pursued this elusive group it will have entered a tailspin that it will find it almost impossible to get out of.

And by then it will have lost the rest of us too.

Because as the great GC once told her on-off boyfriend Arg on TOWIE:

“You ain’t ever gonna get this candy.”

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FAREWELL Jack Charlton.

Leeds United legend Big Jack died last week at the age of 85 and the tributes were deservedly lengthy and fulsome for a man who won the World Cup with England and played more games for Leeds that any other player.

It seems extraordinary and very sad that in the space of just a few weeks we have seen the passing of not just Jack but his long-time defensive partner Norman Hunter as well as another towering figure from the Don Revie era, former England captain Trevor Cherry.

I said after Norman’s death, it would be a tribute to the great man that the team he loved and shed blood for - both his own and other people’s - get promoted back to the promised land of the Premier League this season.

And now, after Jack’s passing, Leeds United are just one point away from promotion.

It is almost certain that they will achieve it at Derby County on Saturday.

Ironic given that it was the Rams that turfed Leeds out of the play-offs last season.

Well they always says revenge is a dish best served cold.

Marcelo Bielsa has cooked up a nice Argentinian gazpacho for lunch on Saturday.

I didn’t grow up knowing Jack Charlton the player.

Or Jack Charlton the manager.

I thought he was a professional fisherman given the amount of times he appeared on telly in my youth in a flat cap, waders and wandering about in a river with a fishing rod.

Like most football fans, I enjoyed his time as manager of the Republic of Ireland.

At a time when the Troubles had driven a huge wedge between Ireland and the UK, this genial character from Northumberland was taken to the hearts of the Irish people.

And most England fans, given their team hadn’t made it to the 1994 World Cup in the USA, supported Jack’s Ireland.

I can remember leaping about after Ray Houghton scored the only goal of the game to see them beat hot favourites Italy.

From what I’ve seen and read in the obituaries of Jack Charlton this week, you’d have paid to watch his brother Bobby play, but you’d want to be sitting next to Jack in the bar after the match.

Lots of Big Jack quotes have been recounted over the last few days.

I’ve been searching to try and find my favourite one.

But I can’t so I hope I haven’t just dreamed it up.

I’m sure I was watching an international featuring Italy on the telly and Jack Charlton was the co-commentator.

Jack said: “Baggio’s having a quiet game.”

His colleague in the commentary box replied: “That’s because he’s not playing, Jack.”

Cheers Jack.

For that memory and for many others.

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Parky's video clip of the week

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AFTER my comments about the strange goings on at financial stricken Wigan Athletic a couple of weeks ago the team have continued their sparkling form, culminating in an 8-nil thrashing of Hull the other night.

It is likely to mean that when the English Football League impose a 12-point penalty on Wigan for going into administration, the points deduction doesn’t send them down from the Championship to League One.

I’m sure the efforts and inspiration provided by manager Paul Cook have been crucial to this super form from a team that could be feeling sorry for itself, not delivering incredible results on the pitch.

I wonder also if Gerald Krasner, the former Leeds United chairman appointed joint administrator who is attempting to ensure the future of Wigan, had a few words of inspiration for the team before its huge win.

If he did go into the changing room before the match then I do hope he was wearing his clip-on pony tail.

I’m reliably told that Gerald used to favour wearing such an accessory for a night out.

Have a great weekend.