New BBC boss warns that 'tough choices are unavoidable'

New BBC boss warns that 'tough choices are unavoidable'Just nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePaul GlynnCulture reporterReutersNew BBC director general Matt Brittin has told staff the BBC "has never been more needed" but that "tough choices are unavoidable as we make savings".On his first day in the job, the former Google Europe boss said the BBC was the "most trusted news provider, the cornerstone of our creative economy, and a force that brings people together".But he added that the broadcaster faces "very real challenges", and he must now decide how to make £500m cuts to tackle what the BBC has described as "significant financial pressures".Brittin has replaced Tim Davie, who resigned last year after criticism that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US president Donald Trump - who is now suing the corporation.The BBC has urged a court to dismiss Trump's multi-billion dollar Florida lawsuit, arguing that the Panorama episode never aired in the US.On Monday morning, Brittin arrived at BBC New Broadcasting House in central London, where he told reporters he was "honoured" and "humbled" to be taking on the role.He was also greeted by protests from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), whose members are on strike over shift changes at World Service radio news programmes Newshour and Weekend, and Radio 4's The World Tonight.Details of further cuts to BBC services are expected in the coming months as the corporation is expected to make to up to 2,000 job cuts to make £500m savings.'Sense of urgency'In an email to staff, Brittin said: "The BBC has proved throughout its history how quickly it can reinvent itself to serve the needs of audiences - from restructuring for World War II to repurposing during Covid to spinning up services in conflict zones. We need, collectively, to call on that sense of urgency now."That means moving wit...