One woman on all BBC comedy panel shows - I'm not sure what I think

[breatheslowly]

Apparently all BBC comedy panel shows will have a woman on them reported here.

I really don't know whether this is a step in the right direction. It seems at the moment that when shows have a woman on the panel, they only ever have one. I think that this policy might improve things (by having at least one). But I think it might entrench the tokenism of having only one woman on each show, in a "we've booked our woman, who else are we going to have on" way.

I also sometimes wonder whether there is an element of racial tokenism in comedy panel shows, where you tend not to get more than one comedian from an ethnic minority.

[TheFutureSupremeRulersMum]

I read two interesting articles about this today. This one in the Guardian, by a comedian I hadn't heard of, saying she wants to get by on merit. Whilst I understand the sentiment I do wonder whether they need to enforce this policy of at least one woman to break through and make it normal to see women panellists regularly and thus letting future women get there on merit because people expect to see women equally represented. I don't think I've put that very well. I do agree with her point that the token female if often there for reasons other than intellect or wit.

I also read Robin Ince's blog about it. I like the way he said he has gained from positive discrimination for years and therefore supports it for others.

It would be nice to see HIGNFY or QI have a majority of women panellists on occasion. In the early nineties HIGNFY had two women guests a week several time.

[Starballbunny]

All well and good as long as we see lots of Jo brand, Sue Perkins and some new faces, but not if we see lots of Sarah Millican.

[PenguinsDontEatKale]

The tokenism thing is a worry.

I am not convinced by the 'I want to get there on merit' argument. Because if women were given a fair crack of the whip, you'd surely not get so many panels with no women. So at the moment it seems like merit isn't enough to get you there if you are a woman.

[TheFutureSupremeRulersMum]

I think I would prefer is they had said 30% of guests across a series should be women.

[JuliaScurr]

women should refuse to appear as the only one

[TheFutureSupremeRulersMum]

That would be really interesting Julia. It could really force the production companies hands if the usual suspects on panel shows (Sue Perkins, Sandi Tosvig, Victoria Coren, Sarah Millican, Jo Brand etc) signed up to that.

[JuliaScurr]

Equity should have a campaign, too

[breatheslowly]

That's a really interesting idea Julia.

The existing tendency to only have one woman per show (if that) must mean that these women don't actually meet each other very often backstage. I wonder whether the informal networking and mentoring that is common in many professions doesn't happen between women in comedy in the same way.

[Lottapianos]

Great idea Julia. I'm in favour of positive discrimination - the old boys club needs a huge kick in the arse, we can't just rely on things to change through magic and goodwill

[Freyalright]

If the usual women panelists refuse. You will easily fill the panel with other women. There are plenty of comedians on the circuit and writers looking for a break on TV. It would be good to see some new talent given a go. Brand and Perkins don't bring much to the table.

[sashh]

I wonder whether the informal networking and mentoring that is common in many professions doesn't happen between women in comedy in the same way.

Even with only 1 woman this will increase because things like QI are filmed in blocks of 3 so at least 3 women back stage.

[Hexbugsmakemeitch]

Julia I believe that Caitlin Moran does just that.

She won't be used as a token woman.

[CaptainCunt]

I'd also prefer average 30% across the board but this is a good start. Merit clearly isn't working.

[JumpingJackSprat]

I think any women on these panels shows is a good thing but some just are not very good in the same way some men are not very good - shappi khorsandi I'm looking at you. No doubt it is harder for women to get into comedy - I wonder how women fare on the comedy club circuit? As that's where they need to be able to make a living as do men. If you can't impress with a live audience night after night then you can't really be a famous mainstream comedian. Channel 4 seem to be pretty good at getting women onto the panel shows - 8 out of 10 cats and would I lie to you always seems to be well represented and I don't see them making a massive song and dance about it?

[scallopsrgreat]

Why not 50% of guests. You know actually achieve equality. Radical I know. What am I thinking of

This is all just s bit benevolent and men still maintaining privilege but we'll let the little ladies know we're thinking about them.

[CaptainGrinch]

As long as they put funny female comedians on the shows they'll be alright.

I have no idea what percentage of comedians are female, but it'd make sense to up the number on shows to match (assuming the women want to appear in the first place) - so if 30% of comedians are female, I'd like to see that many on the shows......

[CaptainGrinch]

at least that many on shows....

[WhoWasThatMaskedWoman]

Within Science Fiction conventions (traditionally male dominated, obvs) the phrase in the air is Panel Parity. All conventions have been under pressure to achieve this and all have felt required to produce a statement on what they're doing and how well they've progressed. Paul Cornell (witty guest, much in demand) blogged about it here.

[WhoWasThatMaskedWoman]

And bear in mind that not all guests need to be standup c

[WhoWasThatMaskedWoman]

Oops
Standup comedians. Several of the shoes in question (eg HIGNFY) have non-comedian guests.

[ErrolTheDragon]

The News Quiz on R4 quite often has more than one female panellist, in addition to Sandi chairing it. The 'regular panellists' are 5 men and 4 women so it's doing better than most and proves it can be done. Perhaps it's a bit easier on the radio for some reason?

[ErrolTheDragon]

'Several of the shows in question (eg HIGNFY) have non-comedian guests.'

yes - in that instance, the regular Ian Hislop isn't a 'comedian' as such. Sometimes Paul Merton is the only person on it who is a comedian.

[devilinside]

I think there are some really funny older women who just don't get a look in on Television, the bigger woman from Kim and Aggie (is it Kim?) She is hilarious, and other older women that have appeared on reality TV shows, and are genuinely funny. They never appear as panelists.

[Creeping]

I think the demand that it's fine to have women comedians on the shows as long as they're funny is telling. Do we judge the men comedians on the shows like that? No, we just accept that they're comedians, who we may or may not find funny.

I believe that this is why women are not getting to be on shows as much, and why they are not getting the success they deserve as much as men. They are judged a lot more critically than men.

[TinyTwoTears]

Interesting. I watched an old episode of mock the week last night and Lauren laverne was on it. She was very quiet and nearly every time she tried to talk someone talked over her. It was infuriating.
I've seen it happen before with just one woman panellist. Maybe if there was more than one woman this wouldn't happen so much.