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.

Mary Beard is truly wonderful. Her passion for her subject, and her sheer cleverness is inspiring. How fabulous that finally there's a female presenter on who has real depth of knowledge of her subject.

I just really hope her feelings aren't hurt by the people who are so shallow they only notice that her hair isn't immaculate, and she hasn't got loads of slap on. In my world, she's a superstar.

Mary - I'll beat them up for you in the playground after school if you like. Just say the word.

Haven't read the DM article either. If I inadvertantly click on a link to their site I get redirected to Tea & Kittens. :) Saves on stress.

Mary Beard is fundamentally better looking than Samantha Brick but both of them could do with some serious dental work! I hate MB's unkemptness but don't think SB's particular brand of grooming is very enhancing either.

Samantha Thickasabrick isn't fit to trail her saggy bellied, over dyed and snaggled toothed body over to Mary to lick her feet.

mary rocks. Outside, inside and all ways.

I did say I was channeling my mother...

Yes, I agree re: the Hairy Bikers SeaShells. Not only are "celebrity chef" type food shows very popular - no reason why they shouldn't be - the Hairy Bikers themselves are also close to acquiring "national treasure" status. As individuals they are also better known than Mary Beard, have completed many more TV series than she has, and have had far more exposure as guests on other shows, as well as in the media. History programmes generally are less popular and unfortunately, classical history probably does still have a reputation for being dry and dusty even though Meet the Romans is anything but.

I happen to think the HBs are regular nice looking blokes, and they're also very friendly warm personalities, but Spam Thick's usage of their viewing figures vs MTRs to "prove" that "attractiveness" on TV garners better ratings is hilarious. I'm sure the HBs would be the last to describe themselves as groomed or styled (though that "failure" is probably exactly what does make them so attractive to many women) yet immediately before contrasting these two sets of figures Spam comments that "most presenters" are savvy enough to fix "visual impediments" which might hamper their careers. Some nasty shallow people might argue that being very hirstute and overweight would impede a presenter's career but the HBs are living proof that good presentation skills and a lovely personality brings success. Maybe it's only women who don't conform to a certain god knows what standard that provoke Spam's ire ?

The irony in all this is, as if it needs saying, that true attractiveness comes from within. Yes ... first impressions count, and are of course very subjective anyway, but the most "beautiful" (in a conventional way) person soon becomes completely repulsive if they're a bastard or a bitch. Conversely, in my own personal experience, I have grown to lust after men who initially didn't strike me as attractive at all ... once I got to know them and discovered how lovely they were. Their looks then suddenly become very tempting indeed ... at least, that's how it's sometimes worked for me. I really do try very hard not to judge books by covers as not only can it be rude and hurtful, you also run the risk of missing out on something really good ... be it a new friend, a relationship, or indeed a fascinating, enjoyable TV show.

Whereas real ugliness is people, regardless of their appearance, who set out to be spiteful about others ....

Go Beard.

Fuck off Brick.

God, is Bricky still harping on.

Bore off woman!

It isn't really about Beard or Brick though.
It's about the fact that the discussion about older, normal-looking women on tv is long overdue and Mary is a conduit for it, while Brick is obediently playing the role of being the one to put the counter-argument.

The discussion didn't take off when Miriam O'Reilly went to court even though the same issues were at stake, because no-one really knew who she was and she didn't attract passionate fans the way Mary does. Also it's much harder to make the case that looks are paramount when the comparison isn't between presenter A (old) and presenter B (young) but between academic who knows stuff and presenter who doesn't (eg the Fiona Bruce castles example).

Even though the Mail is being totally manipulative in getting Brick to write that piece knowing full well that all their readers will laugh at her, I'm glad the discussion is being had. Most importantly it will make it that little bit harder to sack Miriam O'Reillys in the future when the internet has been full of people saying very passionately that they don't care what a presenter looks like as long as they are good.

Just reading through the ruckus MB had on a thread in the feminist section.

She can hold her own for sure

Whatever you think of miss world, she's entitled to her own opinion just like everyone else.

I think she's attractive.

I'm sure SB is just trying to stretch her 15 minutes that little bit further. Mary is great to watch and learn from.

That's funny, Sittinginthesun, I was thinking the exact same thing about her and Brian Cox.They both know what the are talking about and have an infectious way of getting their enthusiasm for the subject across. But even better, on Mary's programme, there was no repeating information over and over again which a lot of factual programmes are guilty of("Dumbingdown",anyone?), it treated us like adults and gave us things to think about.
And I, too ,think she's a lovely looking women. How lovely to have a 'real' person on our screens.

I love Mary Beard but no she isn't attractive by any stretch of the imagination as far as I'm concerned.

Then again, she doesn't have to be.

She's a fantastically clever woman and that has to trump looks every time imo.

oops didn't realise there was another page of comments to go before replying!!

I can't see how Mary Beard is ugly, or the other women linked to in the dm article. They're just women, how can you define them as ugly?

SB pisses me off to the extreme. I hate her

Mary Beard is a formidable scholar. And who the EFF is Samantha Brick? A delusional woman with neither beauty nor brain.

YANBU!

Love her, her incredible knowledge, irreverence, lack of inhibition, and ability to seemingly find out stuff and turn it into meaningful and informative telly on the hoof. I bet the script was more a skeleton than an autocue with her - not like so many documentaries. I also like the way they did not rely on those bloody stupid cliffhanger moments and 'jeapardy' storylines so loved by channel 4 and 5 documentaries (5 minute recap after each commercial break, repeating same basic point every five minutes, dramatic music, etc)

I love her hair, and I think she has great attitude. I want to study classics!

Is Samantha Brick actually real? I'm beginning to wonder whether she is a wind-up. Because nobody, surely, could be that un-self-aware?

Samantha Brick should be disgusted with herself. I am absolutely sure that her vicious behaviour will come back and bite her in the arse. She should fuck the fuck off as soon as possible. :(

Obviously we need to get Mary Beard on here for a live web chat.

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

Same here. I haven't watched the programme but will catch it on iPlayer after the comments on here. When it comes to presenting what may be considered a dull subject I would far rather watch someone who is interested and interesting and passionate about their subject. Too many programmes have a pretty face/sleb fronting them and the programme ends up being more about the presenter than the subject.

I agree with Worra I don't think long grey hair is an attractive look on anyone - male or female, but I couldn't care less, because I would want to learn about the subject not the presenter.

Samantha Brick is beyond belief. How self-absorbed and thick can one woman be? I'm with Don, and believe she is actually a robot, created to give women a bad name.

Mary Bead rocks!

Team Beard.

awwww look what Stephen Fry has tweeted:
'Stephen Fry ‏ @stephenfry
Been caching up with your brilliant series @wmarybeard You're a lot better looking than me, & I've been getting away with it for 30 years x'