BBC bosses 'are planning to spend £63million on taxis for stars and staff' despite being told to slash costs
The eye-watering spend will fund a 24/7 cab service for employees, on-screen talent, guests and equipment under a new five-year contract.
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By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 01:41 GMT, 12 January 2026 | Updated: 01:56 GMT, 12 January 2026
BBC bosses are preparing to splash out up to £63million on taxis for staff and presenters – despite warning they must slash £150million from programme budgets.
The eye-watering spend will fund a 24/7 cab service for employees, on-screen talent, guests and equipment under a new five-year contract advertised on a government procurement website.
The deal, equivalent to the cost of more than 361,000 TV licences, has been divided into two lucrative lots.
One is for an app-based 'ride-hail' service estimated to be worth £35.5million, while a second contract worth £17million will cover pre-booked journeys across the UK and overseas, The Sun reports.
The contracts are due to run from July 2027 to June 2030, with an option to extend for a further two years – pushing the total potential bill to £63million.
The corporation is thought to be losing around £1billion a year as increasing numbers of households claim they only watch streaming services and therefore do not need a TV licence.
Industry insiders have warned the shortfall could force deep cuts to flagship shows including The Traitors, fronted by Claudia Winkleman, Strictly, and big-budget period dramas such as the award-winning Wolf Hall. Some programmes could be axed entirely, while new commissions may be slashed.
The eye-watering spend will fund a 24/7 cab service for employees, on-screen talent, guests and equipment under a new five-year contract advertised on a government procurement website
The contracts are due to run from July 2027 to June 2030, with an option to extend for a further two years – pushing the total potential bill to £63million
All this comes as viewers brace for another hit to their wallets, with the TV licence fee expected to rise from £174.50 to more than £180.
The plans have triggered fury from campaigners and politicians, who say the spending shows how out of touch the broadcaster is with struggling licence fee payers.
Shimeon Lee, policy analyst at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'It's a perfect example of how the BBC treats licence fee-payers' money as an open tab.
'While households are struggling to cover energy bills and food costs, the BBC is lining up app-based ride-hailing and international chauffeured travel for its own staff. These perks should be scrapped, and so should the licence fee.'