More on ageism at BBC, presenter told HD tv would be crunch time because of her wrinkles!

it's great isn't it?
I didn't actually think she would win at all.

thread here

Hey! the good news is that Miriam has won her case & the BBC have been found guilty of ageism (& rather worringly victimisation too). Although having said that, I heard Greg Dyke, BBC controller (?), interviewed on the radio on Wednesday and he sounded very complacent. So lets hope that from now on managers like him are not allowed to continue with this discriminatory attitude...

The fact remains that TV is a visual medium. It's not just the BBC, it's something which affects all broadcasters. And so, because the focus is on the visual, if you're a wrinkly woman you're out, because who knows what damage you might wreak upon the nation?

It's like the younger woman/ older man presenter pairing on shows like Strictly. You'd never see it the other way round.

Aren't there better attitudes towards women presenters ageing in other European countries? I'm sure this says something about UK culture that we treat women this way while those we think of as our counterparts don't.

The words of older women have always been devalued though haven't they. Men acquire "gravitas" while women become "silly old women". ("This was a chat between friends about Botox" wasn't it dearie)

Terry Wogan is 72, Bruce Forsyth is 82, David Dimbleby is 72 - admittedly Terry has been "downgraded" recently but only after literally decades of ubiquity. Forsyth and Dimbleby front two of the most high profile shows on TV.

I literally can't think of a male presenter in his 20s, outside of kids' TV. I like to see a range of ages and looks of people on television because I am more interested in what they have to contribute, and if I am only seeing one kind of person (smooth young women for instance) than it is obvious that something fishy is going on, and we are being deprived of what other kinds of person have to offer. Flicked past an old programme about Hattie Jacques the other night, that had contributions from Mo Mowlem. She was plump and balding after cancer treatment, but that doesn't make me want to hide behind the sofa - who are these wimps who can't listen to a woman without her being approved as shag-ready?

Actually I asked an ex-boyfriend of mine years ago why so many men/boys have the visceral "ugh" reaction to overweight/older/not to their taste women in the vicinity. His answer was that they thought about having sex with every woman they saw, and if they wouldn't fancy it then they get the visceral "ugh" reaction. As if her existence in front of their eyes is a personal insult. The idea that they could just accept her existence without wanting to shag her apparently is a leap too far. I know not all men think like this but I suspect lots do :(

I absolutely hate all the ageism and sexism against women on TV. I think some of the younger women presenting seem very insubstantial compared to their knocked off older counterparts. (Alesha Dixon anyone???!)
A few wrinkles should not mean the end of a womans career. And what after Botox if they agree to that, a facelift??

I would love to see more older, well presented, intelligent women in prime positions on TV as are men. Women have more to offer than just a (young) pretty face.

ooops, apologies to Paul O'Grady. He's obviously not aging too well. My point is that you would never see an older woman presenting a prime time chat show. Lorraine Kelly just presents a 'fluffy' lifestyle show.

That cross-examination is awful. Even if she had a bald patch that should be no reason at all to remove her from our screens. Can't we have tv presenters who (non-tokenistically) reflect how people actually look?

I was watching Breakfast on BBC1 this morning at 7am when I was up with DS.

The female presenter was a good deal older than the women I'm used to seeing. I didn't catch her name, but she was blonde, had lots of make-up on but noticeable wrinkles and saggy neck.

I have to admit I did a bit of a double take as I wasn't expecting to see an older women on TV.

She was wearing this crazy patterned top though, it was mind-boggling to look at... I wondered if BBC put her in that to detract from her sagging.

Was good to see an older lady though :)

paul o'grady is 55! Five years older than Lorraine Kelly.

It's sexism. I was watching the Paul O'Grady chat show this evening, and he's got to be pushing 70. Could you ever imagine a woman of that age presenting a prime time chat show?

Shocking!

I'm 26 and I want to see people from a range of ages on the TV. I don't know who they are aiming these beautiful, tanned, smooth faced women to. Surely normal people at home watching TV don't mind who is presenting.

Do you think they told John Craven to get botox?