Ski Sunday, the BBC’s winter sports programme, is to end after nearly 50 years.

First broadcast in 1978, it featured the best of winter sports action, with Ed Leigh and Chemmy Alcott its most recent presenting team.

“Changing audience behaviours and the tough financial decisions needed to meet savings requirements mean BBC Sport must continually review how it delivers value for licence fee payers and serves audiences across all platforms. This decision forms part of that process,” said a BBC Sport statement.

Philip Bernie, head of BBC Sport events, said Ski Sunday “has been a truly iconic programme”.

He added: “Generations of viewers have enjoyed its coverage of the best in winter sports.

“We are enormously proud of the role it has played in bringing these moments to audiences across the UK, and extremely grateful to the brilliant people who have delivered them, not least the current outstanding team.

“These decisions are never easy, but as audience viewing habits evolve and we work to deliver value for licence fee payers, we have to make tough choices.

“We remain committed to bringing audiences the very best of winter sport, above all at the Winter Olympics, across BBC Sport’s platforms.”