David Eades has already quit the BBC after years or service (Picture: BBC)

The BBC is losing three of its seasoned news presenters amid its plans to merge BBC World News and the BBC News Channel to create a single 24-hour TV news service.

According to reports, David Eades, Joanna Gosling, and Tim Willcox have taken involuntary redundancy despite having been part of the fabric of the corporation for decades.

Last week, Eades fronted his final show for the BBC, while it’s expected that Gosling is expected to depart at the end of the month. An official date for Willcox’s departure remains unclear.

It is believed that the trio’s exit comes after they refused to screen test for the channel’s new team of six lead presenters, with a rumoured 15 presenters interviewing for the roles.

Insiders claim that the auditioning process has been ‘humiliating’ for many members of staff who already have a wealth of experience helming rolling news coverage.

Joanna Gosling is also leaving the BBC at the end of the month (Picture: BBC)

Tim Willcox is also said to be stepping down (Picture: BBC)

‘I think they [Eades, Gosling, and Willcox] could not face the prospect of having to go through this ignominious process,’ one source told Deadline.

‘People are incandescent,’ another told the publication. ‘It’s humiliating — you feel like you’re 21 again and applying for your first job on the BBC.’

But despite backlash over the recruitment process, the successful candidates will be rewarded with new positions and a higher pay grade that could have them raking in up to £230,000 a year. 

Eades had been a presenter at the BBC since 2003, with Gosling joining some years before him in 1999.

BBC World News reporter Willcox also has more than two decades of BBC experience. 

The BBC previously announced BBC World News and BBC News Channel will merge to serve both UK and international audiences.

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BBC Four and CBBC will also end as linear TV channels.

The corporation also plans for local radio stations to share more content and broadcast less programming unique to their areas.

Metro.co.uk has contacted the BBC and David Eades, Joanna Gosling, and Tim Willcox for comment.

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Reports claim they didn’t want to screen test.