Growth

Thirteen months ago Declan Wilson arrived as the new Head of TV and Online News for BBC England.  He told Press Gazette: “The BBC’s regional TV news service remains remarkably popular and has been incredibly resilient in the face of big shifts in how people consume news.

“That’s testament to the hard work of our teams in newsrooms across England who make informative and engaging journalism that resonates with audiences.I want to build on that success. Our online content also reaches big audiences while being distinctive and that’s something I want to grow.”

Last week he announced that 36 posts which form the central hub for producing and editing online news right across England are to close. Three of those 36 roles will transfer to MediaCityUK (Mr Wilson's office base - he lives in north of Leeds, 73 miles away by road.)

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street is unhappy: “The closure of BBC England’s online subbing hub in the Mailbox in favour of a new desk in Salford is particularly disheartening, as it was a clear sign of the corporation’s commitment to the BBC outside of London and Salford." He's written to the DG, who presumably will pass the letter to Tim Davie.

In his judgement at the end of Sir Cliff Richard's successful action against the BBC, back in 2018, Mr Justice Mann described Declan's evidence as "particularly unsatisfactory". Mr Wilson was then the line manager of reporter Dan Johnson.