BECTU

Head of industry union Bectu, Philippa Childs, said: "We welcome this timely and incisive report from the committee which identifies many of the urgent challenges currently facing the industry and its workforce."

Philippa Childs, head of the Bectu union, which represents TV crew, said the news was "incredibly disheartening".

Despite the success of Christmas TV shows like Gavin and Stacey, the union Bectu said half of freelancers were out of work as broadcasters grappled with tighter budgets and falling advertising revenue.

Bectu said over half of its freelance members were out of work, with 78% reporting that they were struggling to pay their bills.

Bectu wants the UK government to create a freelancers' commissioner to oversee the workforce and protect their rights.