Short skirts and unsightly knees

WHILE I always enjoy Jayne Dowle’s column and agree with most of it, her latest piece was a little bit biased and slanted by virtue of the figures she quoted (Yorkshire Post, May 20).

She said only 18 per cent of TV presenters are women over the age of 50 and that women make up more than 50 per cent of the country’s population.

But how many of the population are women over the age of 50? She should compare like with like. Although most of her comments about talent were spot on there is, sadly, a desire to see attractive younger women on our screens too. But not the younger news announcer with short skirts who doesn’t seem to realise her exposed knees offset the benefits of her attractive face!

Footfall pitfall

From: Eric Vevers, Turnberry Avenue, Alwoodley, Leeds.

DOES anybody out there know when the word “footfall” came into the everyday speak of 
today’s business and marketing men?

My dictionary says it’s the sound of a footstep – not the number of visitors to the new Leeds Trinity shopping complex – or the number of shoppers walking up Briggate on a Saturday afternoon!

What a silly, ridiculous term.Can you imagine someone saying: “There was a good sized footfall at Headingley this week for the New Zealand Test?” Yuk!

Pity poor MPs

From: Malcolm Hanson, Southolme Walk, Boroughbridge.

I NOTICE that the underworked MPs are looking for a pay rise of between £10,000 and £20,000. (Yorkshire Post, May 20). If it is of any help, I will donate the 25p to which I am entitled on becoming an octogenarian at the end of June. I might even consider donating my £10 Christmas bonus if they are so hard up.