Samira Ahmed reveals BBC have taken her Newswatch show off air for two weeks while bosses review Covid safety at New Broadcasting House
- Presenter Samira Ahmed takes to Twitter to announce temporary cancellation
- BBC confirm lockdown will see increased precautions in London headquarters
- Along with John Neal, show host is ‘pressing to return as soon as possible’
Samira Ahmed has confirmed that the BBC has taken Newswatch off air for the next two weeks while the broadcaster reviews the working situation in its London headquarters.
The TV presenter, who hosts the programme about viewers’ opinions on the coverage of events by BBC News, said she hopes it will be back soon.
She wrote on Twitter: ‘I am very sorry to report that @newswatchbbc has been taken off air this wk & next while BBC News management review the Covid 19 safe working situation in New Broadcasting House.
Samira Ahmed revealed that the BBC has taken Newswatch off air for the next two weeks as a review of the Covid-19 situation in the company’s London headquarters takes place
‘Editor John Neal and I very much pressing to return as soon as possible.’
A BBC spokeswoman said: ‘At the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, BBC News streamlined services to ensure it was keeping news on air with reduced staff numbers.
The BBC headquarters New Broadcasting House, pictured above, is being reviewed for Covid-19 safety following the newest lockdown restrictions introduced on Monday, January 4
‘With the current lockdown and increased precautions we have simplified some output and delayed the return of some programming – we plan to bring these back to air as soon possible.
‘We have rigorous protocols in place to manage Covid-19 and the safety of our staff is paramount.’
Following an employment tribunal, Samira Ahmed reached a settlement with the BBC last year after it was revealed she was not being paid the same as fellow presenter Jeremy Vine
The programme sees the editors and decision-makers address the opinions of viewers.
Last year a London employment tribunal found that Ahmed should have been paid the same as fellow presenter Jeremy Vine for their work on Newswatch and Points Of View respectively.
The BBC had argued that the pair were not doing similar work.
Ahmed and the BBC later reached a settlement.