Closure date for BBC Look East (Cambridge) revealed by BBC reporter

A BBC reporter in Cambridge revealed today that the Look East nightly programme broadcast from the city will end a week before Christmas.

Mousumi Bakshi, a presenter, and reporter for BBC Look East Cambridge, tweeted the closure date.

“Dear Anyone, Who Is Interested,” she began her tweet.

“Our last BBC Look East programme will air on December 16.”

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She added: “Merry Christmas to the Cambridge team.”

The closure of the Cambridge based regional news outlet was widely condemned when it was announced earlier in the year.

But a BBC spokesperson said at the time: “The Cambridge service is one of our lowest performing programmes, has only been running since 2018 and viewers already get news broadcast from Norwich at other times of the day.”

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From the New Year it means the BBC will combine coverage of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, northern Hertfordshire, and Northamptonshire into a single programme.

And that will be broadcast from its Norwich studios.

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Other changes announced earlier this year – as part of a bid to save £500m a year – included axing BBC Four, BBC Radio 4Extra and CBBC in their current format.

The closure of BBC Look East from Cambridge was announced in May.

The BBC spokesperson said: “We’re proud of our Cambridge service, which has served viewers well and produced some great journalism.

“We need to make tough choices as we change our services in line with audience needs.”

One of those who fought to save the Cambridge edition of the programme was Daniel Zeichner, Labour MP for Cambridge.

He said: “I understand the pressure that the BBC is under, but the essence of local news it that it is local, and this is a step backwards.

“Cambridge and the surrounding area are the fastest growing regions in the country, with real interest in local stories.”

He added: “In parliament, I and others are busy making the case for the East, and BBC News is one of the key building blocks giving people an understanding of the issues in our area.”