BBC values older men... but where are the older women, asks Harman

THE BBC needs to "wake up" to the dearth of older females on its programmes, Women and Equality Minister Harriet Harman said today.

The House of Commons leader said older women have disappeared from the small screen – much to the irritation of viewers.

Echoing previous comments she made on the issue, Ms Harman wrote in the Radio Times: "No-one wants the BBC to be a gerontocracy, dominated by elders. But the BBC doesn't allow women to age. If you add up the ages of BBC news presenters, it seems that the women have to be 10 years younger than the men."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: "Instead of women becoming more prominent on our BBC programmes as they get older, they seem to disappear. This is a waste of female broadcasting talent and annoying to older viewers... There is nothing wrong with older women who look like older women.

"I am glad that at least it does seem possible for the BBC to value older men: David Dimbleby and Bruce Forsyth spring to mind. But where are the older women?"

Related topics: