TV chief denounces woman hater claims

Jay Hunt, the former BBC One controller, insisted yesterday she had promoted a number of women in their 40s and older into prime time TV slots during her tenure at the channel.

At the tribunal hearing brought by former Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly, 53, who was dropped by the programme before it moved to a prime time Sunday evening slot in April 2009, Ms Hunt described claims that four women in their 40s and 50s had been dropped from the programme because she "hated women" as "entirely and categorically" untrue.

"It is entirely and categorically untrue, also profoundly distressing and utterly offensive on every level. I am a 43-year-old woman, I have had my own difficulties surviving this industry.

"For that reason, the last thing I would ever do is ever discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender or age.

"Nothing could be further from my mind.

"The only small comfort I have taken from such a distressing thing as this is the number of women both behind the camera and in front of the camera who have got in touch with me, sympathetic and outraged that I have had to sit there and listen to such a hateful thing."

The BBC has denied a claim of sex and age discrimination by Ms O'Reilly and has said she was dropped because she lacked prime time television experience.

Ms Hunt said when she joined as BBC One controller in May 2008, she had been committed to improving "diversity" on screen to ensure that it better reflected its audience, which is predominantly over 55 and female. She said it was "important" and "entirely appropriate" that they use "older female authority figures" in peak time.

Notable examples, she said of her work to boost older women were those of Anne Robinson, brought back to Watchdog in its "peak" and actor Sheila Hancock on Over the Rainbow.

She added she believed Ms O'Reilly was "extremely talented" but her strengths lay as a "straight news reporter" rather than the "immersive" demands of the revamped Countryfile.

Three other female presenters Michaela Strachan, 42, Juliet Morris, 45, and Charlotte Smith, 46, were also dropped.

The hearing continues today.