BBC Nations boss champions Welsh language amid 'serious' cuts

The BBC's new Director of Nations says she has "never seen such a serious situation for the corporation" as the BBC commits to swathes of job cuts and axes programming across the UK in a bid to save £500m.

This week it was confirmed Rhuanedd Richards, who is from the Cynon Valley, would head BBC operations across the devolved nations and the English regions following a temporary stint in the post.

In September BBC Wales announced 58 job cuts, as well as a 20-hour annual cut in TV programming, leading the First Minister to warn the BBC could fall foul of its public service obligations.

Richards vowed to fight for the Welsh language and its presence at the BBC "while there is breath in my body".

Speaking on Dros Frecwast, on BBC Radio Cymru, Richards said she was determined to "ensure that the BBC serves and reflects all of our devolved nations on these islands, along with all the regions of England".

"There is nothing more fundamental to the BBC than the fact that audiences and those who pay the license fee, wherever they live, feel that the BBC offers them something," she said.

Several people have expressed concern about the impact of the financial situation on Wales in particular, including Minister for Culture Heledd Fychan and the former Welsh Language Commissioner, Efa Gruffudd Jones.

This week, the First Minister of Wales, Rhun ap Iorwerth, sent a letter to BBC chief Matt Brittin warning of the impact of cuts to BBC Cymru.

His letter claimed the changes could lead to the BBC being in breach of its public service obligations under its Royal Charter.

In reply, the director-general assured the Welsh leader the BBC takes its obligations to Wales "extremely seriously".

Richards acknowledged the extent of the corporation's current financial situation, emphasising that it affects "every single part of the BBC".

"It is extremely challenging and there is no point in me sitting here and claiming otherwise," she said.

"The BBC is under real financial pressure.

"I have never seen such a serious situation for the corporation, and that is after a decade of cuts that have already taken place in real terms."

Richards said the Welsh language services had not been hit any worse than other areas, and had been "somewhat protected, compared to a number of other departments in the BBC".

But she expressed her disappointment over the loss of programmes on Radio Cymru, while conceding the financial reality left few alternatives.

"Although we [Wales] face fewer cuts than many other departments in the BBC, jobs are closing and programs and services are going," she said.

"I'm Welsh-speaking - the language is a core and important part of me and, of course, I will fight for it while there is breath in my body.

"Radio Cymru was responsible for opening my eyes to culture in the Welsh language, and I come from a non-Welsh speaking family so I understand how important this is."

Richards, who began her career as a journalist at BBC Wales, insisted Welsh-language services remained paramount within the corporation's remit, arguing they held an exceptional place within the organisation.

"There is something unique about the BBC's responsibility to the Welsh language, because if we miss something the audience can't necessarily go somewhere else to get the same service in Welsh," she said.

"But also, I am concerned about the English provision in Wales: there is nowhere else for English radio audiences to go to hear news from Wales either.

"So I take my responsibility of serving everyone in Wales very seriously, and Radio Wales and Radio Cymru play a very important role in that regard."

She said the BBC had "to represent every part of Wales, every corner of Wales and every community".

"As Director of BBC Wales I have spent quite a bit of time campaigning for more jobs and more services to move from London to Wales, so I won't be making the case for centralising services in Cardiff," she said.

"I fully believe that the BBC's presence will continue throughout Wales. It is part of our mission.

Richards suggested more cuts were likely in coming years, but not "inevitable".

"Something can be done about this situation - just so that we have certainty and a sustainable arrangement for the future funding of the BBC."