Jane Hill and Ben Brown among anchors axed as BBC merges news channels

Insiders say departure of popular BBC News presenters - with Martine Croxall also going - could prompt ageism row

Some of the BBC News channel's most famous faces, including Jane Hill, Ben Brown and Martine Croxall, have been axed before the launch this spring of a channel that combines international and domestic news.

The trio have become familiar to UK viewers during times of political and economic turmoil and their departure could prompt a row about ageism, according to BBC insiders.