'Street' pair attack their industry for ageism

The two long-serving soap actresses called for more stage and television roles to be provided for older female performers.

Callard, 53, who plays Rovers' Return landlady Liz McDonald, said every new TV drama and the majority of plays were dominated by men.

She told The Stage: "The business is very ageist towards women – much more than it is to men. I think it's wrong but unfortunately that's the way it is.

"It's a shame because we have got some of the best actresses in the world."

Nicholls, 66, best known as Weatherfield hairdresser Audrey Roberts, said roles for people of all age groups were limited outside soap operas.

She added: "It's because we are in the 'look-ist' age and that is why so many people go and have work done. I don't know how you get over it, really.

"Older people feel they have got to start looking better and I think that is sad."

Nicholls claimed older actresses were particularly under-represented in theatre outside the West End.

Actors' union Equity has started a petition calling for broadcasters to better represent older women.

The issue of ageism was recently highlighted by former presenter Selina Scott who accused the BBC of "malign sexism and ageism".

She said she had sent a dossier to BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons which she claimed contained "an exhaustive account of blatant and sometimes malign sexism and ageism against women".

The 59-year-old, once known as the BBC's Golden Girl, who

left broadcasting to run a farm in North Yorkshire, said the corporation had done nothing to combat the under-representation of

older women on TV, and the "obsession" with youth had increased.

Ms Scott left broadcasting to run a farm in North Yorkshire.