BBC Three axe announcement to be made later today

The BBC is expected to make an announcement regarding the future of BBC Three later today.

Media correspondent David Sillito confirmed to BBC News that the channel will be axed, with all programmes moving to iPlayer.

The move is part of BBC director general Tony Hall’s cost-cutting plans for the corporation.

Stars including Matt Lucas and Jack Whitehall have campaigned in favour of keeping the channel, after rumours of its demise recently emerged.

Last week, Tony Hall said that “tough choices” were ahead, stating: “We are in the final stages of a budget process to find an extra £100m of savings.

“I will announce the outcome of those decisions in the next month.”

Hall must get approval from the BBC Trust, which looks after the interests of licence fee payers, before the move online can take place.

A BBC spokesperson insisted this week that “no decisions… [had] been made” regarding budget cuts or the future of BBC Three.

“Tony Hall set out some of the very real challenges the BBC faces at his speech in Oxford,” the spokesperson said at the time. “He made clear that we will face tough choices about our budgets, and while nothing is off the table, no decisions have been made.”

BBC Three started broadcasting in 2003, and has launched shows such as Bad Education, Little Britain, Torchwood, Being Human and Gavin & Stacey.