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BBC News has suspended plans to cut 450 jobs as it faces the demands of covering the coronavirus pandemic.
The job losses were announced in January and were part of a plan to complete a £80m savings target by 2022.
Outlets due to be hit include BBC Two’s Newsnight, BBC Radio 5 Live and the World Service’s World Update programme.
Director general Tony Hall gave staff the news on Wednesday, a week after the broadcaster delayed the end of the free TV licence scheme for all over-75s.
- BBC delays over-75 TV licence fee changes
- BBC News announces 450 job cuts
- BBC and ITV revamp plans as coronavirus spreads
Lord Hall said “we’re suspending the consultation on those saving plans”.
He told staff: “We’ve got to get on with doing the job that you’re doing really brilliantly.
“It would be inappropriate. We haven’t got the resource to plough ahead with those plans at the moment, so we’ll come back to that at some point.
“But for the moment we just want to make sure you are supported and you’ve got the resources to do the job that you and your colleagues are doing amazingly.”
Some programmes, such as Politics Live and Victoria Derbyshire, have been taken off air to prioritise coronavirus coverage, and several radio networks are sharing news bulletins.
