BBC stars to strike

Major live TV events including the FA Cup Final and Eurovision Song Contest could face a blackout after BBC staff today voted overwhelmingly to go on strike.

High-profile newscasters such as Jeremy Paxman, Fiona Bruce and John Humphrys could be among those walking out in anger at BBC chiefs' plans for up to 6,000 job cuts.

Recorded shows may also suffer because of the action, which could start as early as Friday next week.

More than 80 per cent of NUJ members - including television, radio and BBC online journalists - have voted to strike.

And 78 per cent of Bectu members, who are backstage and technical staff, have also signalled their determination to protest at director general Mark Thompson's £355million cost cuts.

The ballot closed at lunchtime today and union leaders said the anger among employees was "glaringly apparent". NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: "This result is a reflection of the huge anger at the scale and impact of Mark Thompson's cuts.

"The cuts package is badly thought-out, doesn't add up, will do irreparable damage to quality and standards and has been soundly rejected by staff."

The BBC unions will meet tomorrow morning to plan the action. Legally, they must give at least seven days' notice of any walk-out and action must take place within four weeks of the ballot result being announced. A walk-out from 20 May would hit the FA Cup Final and Eurovision Song Contest, both on the following day.

Union chiefs have warned that their aim is to "shut live programming down, leading to blank screens and dead air."

Mr Thompson's budget cuts, which he says are designed to free more cash for programmes, could see a quarter of BBC staff sacked, privatised or outsourced.

A BBC spokesman said: "Given the scale of the changes that the BBC need to make and that the unions have not allowed us to talk to them to address their concerns, we are not surprised by the ballot result. But we are disappointed because we would prefer to continue constructive discussions."

Meanwhile, after a damning report into BBC coverage of European issues, governors today pledged to improve staff training and address concerns that it largely reports on European matters through the "prism" of Westminster.