Channel 4 has announced the deepest round of layoffs in its 43-year history.

The British network, home to shows including The Great British Bake Off and Taskmaster, is planning to cut 340 jobs by the end of 2026, meaning its workforce will shrink by more than a quarter.

Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra announced the layoffs on Wednesday after spending recent months overseeing a strategic review of the commercial broadcaster.

She told employees that the redundancies — equivalent to 28% of Channel 4’s 1,276-strong workforce — will ensure that more of C4’s £1 billion ($1.3 billion) income is spent on screen.

The scale of the cuts has shocked insiders and others close to Channel 4. One source described it as a “very bad” day for the British broadcaster.

Channel 4 finds itself increasingly isolated in a world in which it is dwarfed in size by some of its production suppliers, rival networks, and digital giants like YouTube.

The state-owned broadcaster is grappling with these forces at the same time as reckoning with ad market contraction and rising production costs.

Dogra has designed a new organizational structure, aimed at reducing management layers, removing duplication, and simplifying decision-making.

She is positioning the changes as “owning our future,” building on the work of her predecessor Alex Mahon in growing digital sales to 34% of Channel 4’s revenue.

Channel 4’s announcement was, however, light on details about the new structure, including how it will impact commissioning and the network’s fledgling in-house production plans.

A consultation process with staff will begin shortly. Channel 4 said further details will be announced about the plans in the coming months.

Dogra said: “Channel 4 is a precious asset which plays a unique role in the UK. We need to secure and own our future so we can continue to make shows others won’t, reach audiences others can’t, and thrive as a distinctive and disruptive British voice for future generations.

“Today marks the first phase of our transformation, ensuring Channel 4 is the right shape and size to deliver its future strategy and focus investment in the programmes audiences love.

“The challenges we face require a fundamental transformation in how we work. I know the proposals we are announcing today will be very difficult for many colleagues and will have a significant impact across the organisation. Many talented people who have made an enormous contribution to Channel 4 will be leaving as a result.

“These decisions have not been taken lightly, but I strongly believe they are necessary to create a simpler, more focused and more sustainable Channel 4 that can invest a greater proportion of revenues into distinctive content, back British creativity and deliver impact for audiences long into the future.”

Channel 4 chair Geoff Cooper added: “The proposals announced today are intended to secure Channel 4’s future as a trusted, independent British broadcaster.

“By taking action now, it can build a more sustainable and resilient organisation, maximise investment in content and strengthen its ability to deliver public value for audiences, the creative industries and the UK for the years ahead.”

Channel 4 cuts often spark conversations about the broadcaster’s executive pay, which reached record levels during Mahon’s tenure. Despite leaving Channel 4 in June 2025, Mahon’s total pay stood at £566,000, which is more than the BBC director-general earns in a year, despite running a considerably larger organization.

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