The BBC is considering plans to axe one of its digital television channels as part of a plan to save £100 million a year.

Executives at the corporation have discussed plans to end the youth-orientated BBC 3and move its programmes directly on to the iPlayer.

The broadcaster's director-general Tony Hall is understood to be proposing the move.

In a speech last week to the Oxford Media Convention, Mr Hall said the BBC needed to make more cuts but ruled out “salami slicing” from every department and said he wanted to “focus on what we do best”.

That sparked speculation that either BBC 4 or BBC 3 would be axed and corporation bosses believe BBC 3’s audience would be more likely to access content online.

Some of the stars who launched their careers on the channel have joined a campaign to save BBC 3.

Jack Whitehall, who wrote and starred in Bad Education on the channel, tweeted: "I really hope reports that the BBC may kill BBC3 are just rumours. Their support of new comedy in particular is vital!"

Little Britain star Matt Lucas said closure would be "really bad for new comedy". Any proposal to close the channel or move it wholesale to the iPlayer would have to be approved by the BBC Trust — the corporation's governing body.