Look North will be off air on Wednesday and Thursday in the latest round of BBC strikes.
Viewers may have noticed changes to the BBC's flagship daily local news programme in recent months, including shows being broadcast from outside the North East, or different presenters standing in for regulars. Look North presenters often "act-up", where they fulfil a role above their pay grade and are paid accordingly to do so.
However, NUJ members of BBC newsrooms have been undertaking industrial action since Friday March 31, where presenters will not "act up", meaning that twice a week bosses must find an alternative solution. Look North staff are standing in solidarity with workers who are striking against the BBC's current plans to divert funding away from local radio services.
Read more: BBC staff stage 48-hour strike to protest 'cuts' planned for local radio stations
Presenters Jeff Brown, Dawn Thewlis, Alasdair Gill and weatherman Paul Mooney were on the picket line outside the Pink Palace for Wednesday morning's strike action alongside radio and online staff.
Jeff tweeted his support, saying: "Taking @NUJofficial action against the planned cuts to BBC local radio. We appreciate your support for our 48hr strike."
Andrew Hartley, NUJ rep for BBC Newcastle, TV and online, confirmed that there will be no Look North programmes tonight or tomorrow and apologised to viewers. He said: "This strike is really hitting the BBC's output, it's causing our managers a lot of embarrassment.
"It's the only way we can fight these cuts. It's a blunt tool but we have to do it.
"We're sorry that it's going to impact hundreds of thousands of people who watch the programme every night."
A BBC spokesperson said: "We understand this is a difficult period of change for many colleagues and we will continue to support everyone affected by the plans to strengthen our local online services across news and audio.
"Our goal is to deliver a local service across TV, radio and online that offers more value to more people in more local communities. While the plans do impact on individual roles, we are maintaining our overall investment in local services and expect our overall level of editorial staffing across England to remain unchanged."
Read next
