AIBU to think there aren’t enough older tv presenters?

[Thingswillbesweeter]

Just been watching Captain Tom Moore speaking so inspirationally on Lorraine this morning. His message about the poppy appeal was strong I thought, because it came from him.
It made me think that there are not enough older people represented on TV who older people can relate to. I would love to to see a voices for older people like Captain Tom (or Captain Tom!) on TV more regularly.
Do younger people watch much TV any more anyway?
Just thinking of my Dad and his comment that he doesn’t feel that he belongs in the current world when he puts the TV on.

How old ? There is lots of older TV presenters newsreaders. Tbf .I can't imagine many 100 year olds who would manage to present an hour TV programme.

Is TV not full of old white men? White women drop off after 45, black women never get anywhere to drop off of.

I personally would rather see more older fashion models. I'm sick of trying to gauge if something modeled by a thirteen year old on ASOS would suit me.

How old ? There is lots of older TV presenters newsreaders. Tbf .I can't imagine many 100 year olds who would manage to present an hour TV programme

^^ This. Lorraine Kelly herself is 60 and just about everyone I can think on news and current affairs or 'lifestyle' programmes like Loose Women are signficantly older than me, that puts them in their mid 50s or above. The main presenter on our local news who is a bit of a local celebrity is coming up to 70.

Well.quite older white men .

Are all over TV "

@Lalaloveyou2020

Is TV not full of old white men? White women drop off after 45, black women never get anywhere to drop off of.

I personally would rather see more older fashion models. I'm sick of trying to gauge if something modeled by a thirteen year old on ASOS would suit me.

There are plenty of wrinkled white men presenting pompously. Women - none.

Why is replying on this site such a pain, now?

Moira Stuart is 71 and black, and Trevor McDonald is still presenting and he is black and 81. Angela Rippon is still presenting at 75, as is Joanna Lumley at 74.

I'm trying to think of what shows the OP could be discussing. Gary Lineker (59), Lorraine Kelly (60), David Attenborough (94), Nick Hewer (76), Prue Leith (80) all of the top of my head present or are a lead figure in some of the most popular shows out there. I realise that's a large range of ages, but it depends what we mean by old. I imagine a lot of 80+ year olds don't want/can't work 52 weeks a year!

Plenty of old white men.

There are loads of old presenters, by which I mean late working age. But people like to retire eventually, even TV presenters. Think of Trevor McDonald, he could have easily kept a fulltime newsreading gig if he'd wanted it, but as he aged he felt it easier to switch to occasional broadcasting and coining it through adverts. Murray Walker retired at 78, he could easily have carried on for a few more years but wanted to quit while he was still at the top of his game. Peter O'Sullevan was 79 when he retired.

You only have to switch on the TV now to see a wealth of elderly presenters. Sue Barker is in her late sixties, the Loose Women team must be mostly in their sixties, so is Sandi Toksvig.

Your comment about your Dad and his comment that he doesn’t feel that he belongs in the current world when he puts the TV on - there are plenty of people in their thirties who feel that way too. Everything is about "environment this" or "diversity that" - the in thing is to blame the elderly (i.e., anyone over 25) for the problems of the world.

Is Prue Leith really 80? Didn't know that..

Mary Berry is even older than Prue too isn't she?

Lots of old people on TV. Not enough young ones I think!

Mary Berry 85 !

Yes Prue Leith is amazing.

There are quite a lot if you think about it.

Eamonn and Ruth are both 60. Janet Street Porter is 73. Gloria Hunniford is 80 (just googled, didn’t know that!) David Attenborough is 94. Jeremy Clarkson is 60.

I don’t think media/journalism is as ageist as my profession (teaching.)

I just don't know what kind of programmes and presenters the op father would be after?

Can’t think why there aren’t more 100 year olds like Captain Tom presenting on TV.

Admittedly it was in The Daily Mail recently - but ITV are allegedly looking at getting rid of Eamon and Ruth from This Morning to bring in younger presenters.

This flies against what you are saying, I love E&R but obviously the TV bosses don’t.

The only channel I can think of that still has very young presenters is BBC3. Other than that, I'd say most famous presenters are at least mid-40s and usually older as they've had long careers and are recognisable.

I also love Eamon and Ruth and I much prefer This morning on a Friday during the summer, it would be a loss if they were shoved out. There has. Been many combination s of younger presenters over the years but E&R have lasted.

black women never get anywhere to drop off of.
Rubbish! I spent many years being totally jealous of Moira Stewart's voice. I'm not a great one for knowing the names of presenters but I do know that she isn't alone.

Ok, interesting viewpoints. I expect I was wrong.

Personally as long as they can string a coherent sentence together their age would be irrelevant to me, sadly that eliminates a lot of all ages.

the fact that pp can reel off a list of people over 70 who work in TV isn't proof that there are enough of them. It shows that among a vast sea of people on TV they are noticeable because they are different.

I'd like to see a much wider range of presenters in terms of age, colour and class.