The BBC has announced plans to terminate its long-running interview program HARDtalk as part of a larger initiative to eliminate 130 news positions in an effort to cut costs.

“It is sad news, but also much more important, I think it’s depressing news for the BBC and all who believe in the importance of independent, rigorous, deeply-researched journalism,” Stephen Sackur, who hosted the show, said in a post on X.

The show, which has been on air for nearly three decades, is set to conclude in March of next year. HARDtalk, known for its intense interviews and hosted by journalists like Sackur, has aired from Monday to Thursday since its debut in 1997.

“At a time when disinformation and media manipulation are poisoning public discourse, HARDtalk is unique - a long-form interview show with only one mission, to hold to account those who all too often avoid accountability in their own countries.”

Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, fraudster Charles Ingram from “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”, the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, former Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan, ex-adult film actor Mia Khalifa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are among the notable figures interviewed on HARDtalk over the years.

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The BBC has faced mounting financial pressure recently, especially after a two-year freeze on the licence fee. The broadcaster has projected that its total deficit will rise to £492 million for the 2024-25 financial year.

In addition to the cancellation of HARDtalk, other proposed changes include relocating the production of the overnight program on 5Live from the news division to the BBC’s Nations and Local teams, allowing domestic radio to take World Service summaries overnight, and merging news production for Radio 5Live and Radio 2.

BBC News Chief Executive Deborah Turness also announced the closure of the bespoke news service for the Asian Network, which will now receive Newsbeat bulletins and commission a new locally produced current affairs program.