To think Mary Beard is an attractive women who is certainly not too ugly for TV and Samantha Brick really needs to be aware that the rest of the world aren't as looks obsessed as she is!

[MrsHeffley]

Sorry Daily Mail and I really shouldn't have clicked on Samantha Brick's absolute shite of an article but I did.

Mary had dp and I spellbound last night,that program was an absolute credit to her.I think she's a very attractive lady,I'm very jealous of her "wild" hair,liked her clothes and think she most certainly does not need a make over.

Reassure me that Samantha Brick is wrong and I'm not the only one who thinks her obsession with looks is frankly quite disturbing.

WhereAreTheCakes: "This is what we want - personable people who know their subject giving us programmes - not newsreaders who have read the leaflet on display."

I second that. As to why the DM is giving her space, my bet is the DM asked her to write the article. They just love it, they love stirring up controversy and it gets them more clicks on their website.

I suspect Samantha is trying for a Joan Rivers style persona - sadly lacking the wit to back it up.

My Communications Professor looked like Mary Beard, she used to swing her hair about wildly while lecturing, always wore brightly coloured scarves and bracelets, I thought she was amazing.

I've stopped clicking on anything with SB's name attached to it. She has a remarkable ability to suck the joy out of my day. I can't even laugh at her, like I do Jiz Loans.

'It fucks me off that women are so unsupportive of women.'

But by this token, shouldn't we be supporting Samantha Brick in her high flying job of slagging off other, more intelligent, women?

Mary Beard - fab, so cool in every way, her enthusiasm is contagious, even better than Bettany Hughes, (and she's great too.) Love her style too, (joining Mary Beard fan club now.)

Samantha Brick - sad and not too bright.

That AA Gill comment was shameful, but I loved MB's response especially the oh so cutting remark which said of couse AAG didn't attend university (in otherwords is an uneducated oik).

I think she is wonderful. Her presentation is so engaging and intelligent. She comes across as being a thoroughly nice woman, as well as being ferociously intelligent.

The dm is a troll. It just wants clicks

I am also awestruck at her merrily riding a pushbike through the streets of Rome.

I am also awestruck at her merrily riding a pushbike through the streets of Rome.

I have to watch last nights again. Someone kept talking through it and I missed most of it. She did say something that mad me think 'eh - what are you talking about?' but I can't remember what it was (stressed out yesterday, so very sleepy last night - doormouse mode). I did raise a lazy eyebrow when shagging the slaves was described as 'almost' (or was it 'nearly', 'borderline'?) rape.

Part of me does want to get a hold of her and brush her hair, throw on some slap and put her in a frock, but thats just my mother's influence going on there. She looks like someone who was 'a looker in her youth' (as my mum would have said).

A slightly cleaner version would be good for smaller children (minus the willies, prostitutes andtone down the infanticide).

Mary Beard is awesome! and if we're being shallow I think she's more attractive than the Brick woman She makes a brilliant presenter. Her enthusiasm for her subject is infectious.

I also love the pushbike scenes. She looks bombproof riding around

"The dm is a troll. It just wants clicks"

Definitely

I know which of them i'd rather be (MB) and which one i'd rather get chatting to at the doctors/bus stop/post office queue (MB).

I love Mary Beard - think she's great. She makes her academic specialism come to life for a mass audience in such an engaging way. I was delighted to see her back on TV.

Love Mary Beard, her enthusiasm is addictive, and she is mesmerising to watch!

Samantha Brick.... Gah! Shallow, delusional and not too bright!

I have to admit .... despite once studying Ancient History centuries ago (okay, it wasn't Roman) - that I'd never heard of Mary Beard until the furore over what that odious little man said about her. So ... in a way, through clenched teeth, I have to thank him for bringing her to my attention because I tuned into episode 2 of Meet the Romans (must catch up with the first on iPlayer) and absolutely loved it. It's exactly my sort of history - focussing most on the ordinary man in the street - and Mary brought it alive. It was, by turns, informative in a I-never-knew-that sort of way, funny, and sad, and one of those shows which seemed to last far longer than its allotted hour - but in a good way - because so much content and food for thought was crammed in. How I missed it - presumably it was trailed, and listed in the Radio Times - I don't know, but I'm very glad I found it and will be looking out for more of Mary's work.

As for her "attractiveness" ... not that it should matter, because the show was a delight and I doubt that would have changed even if she looked entirely different ( as it was her warmth, friendliness, obvious expertise, talent at explaining and imaparting info which made it so enjoyable) .... Mary looked like a perfectly normal and nice looking woman in her late 50s. If I look like that when I'm her age I won't complain, but one thing I wanted to mention, and this would have struck me even if there hadn't been all the fuss about A A Gill's spiteful sniping, was just how lovely a smile she has. You know that saying about a smile lighting up a face .... well, that's how Mary smiles, which is a lovely attribute to have because it's infectious and makes people feel happy! Guess that's proof of how much she loves her pet topic.

Great post catsmother!

Mary Beard has been joining us on this thread, if anyone's interested.

I thought her programme was brilliant - she's got that enthusiasm for her subject, and her face shows it.

I wish i hadn't missed the first 2 :(

I did tell DH last night that I wanted to be her when I grow up. In fact, I did want to be a historian as a child....

YY please don't give the DM anymore site traffic- she is Trolling for clicks. Waste of Space.

The reason why The Romans doesn't get as many viewers as the Hairy Bikers, is not because of looks but because of subject. We have a food programme obsession in the UK, not a classical history obsession. Mary Beard's programmes go a long way in popularising and making history accessible (as have the fantastic Horrible histories for children), but to claim poor viewing figures due to the presenter's appearance is shallow minded to say the least (oh, but sorry SB wrote the article, so why expect more?!)

I congratulate SB's success - quite an achievement to write for the highest trafficking news website in the UK and oe of the most read in the western world. But she has sold her soul, and will be used and then spat out by them. A hollow victory for her if she feels such things.

I watched it last night and found it interesting. Don't care for the Romans too much generally and I do wish we could stop getting so hung up on proving how 'normal' people in the past were. Of course they were - they were just people! I'm much more interested in how they differed from us.

Back to subject in hand... Her hair, face and clothes didn't bother me in the slightest but by gad she has some annoying mannerisms.But she is clearly passionate about her subject and is highly educated. I think she'd be damn good company.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Beard and the Meet the Romans program.

Strangely enough I don't watch programs for eye candy. I tune in to learn something from people who are interesting, passionate and enthusiastic about their subject.

Haven't read the DM article, because I absolutely refuse to open their "newspaper", or look at their website, having been brought up in a house where the DM was the paper of choice

I watched the entire series and have to say I love Mary Beard. Her obvious enthusiasm and deep knowledge for her subject make fantastic viewing. Fwiw, I don't care what a presenter looks like as long as he/she is right for the job. IMO, Mary is perfect on this series, and the BBC should commission more shows with her now.

The look of joy mixed with awe as she rocked the cradle is impossible to fake. Her shows have brought the Romans alive for me in a way Schama et al have never done. So thanks Mary. Or