BBC chief offers to discuss Scott claims

Scott said she had sent a dossier to Sir Michael Lyons which she claimed contained "an exhaustive account of blatant and sometimes malign sexism and ageism against women within what is probably the major tastemaker and social arbiter in Britain".

The 59-year-old, once known as the BBC's Golden Girl, said the corporation had done nothing to combat the under-representation of older women on TV, and the "obsession" with youth had increased.

A trust spokesman said Sir Michael and another trustee, Mehmuda Mian, would be happy to meet Scott.

He said: "The trust takes the issue of equality very seriously and, to this end, annually monitors the BBC's progress on equality and diversity, including its compliance with the law.

"While decisions on the employment of individual presenters and members of staff are a matter for the executive, we will be happy to meet with Age UK and Selina Scott to discuss the report and the issues it raises."

In 2008 Scott, who left broadcasting to run a farm in North Yorkshire, sued Channel Five for age discrimination after what she saw as the "final rejection" in years of "suffering at the hands" of the BBC and ITV.