BBC change their minds over Moira Stuart

The BBC has been left reeling by the barrage of criticism from both viewers and some of the corporation's most famous faces over its decision to axe the popular 55-year-old presenter from her regular Sunday slot.

But after a parade of the BBC most distinguished broadcasters including Jeremy Paxman, Andrew Marr, John Humphrys and David Dimbleby threw their weight behind Stuart, as did the British public, the corporation looks like it could be heading for an embarrassing climb-down.

BBC head of television news Peter Horrocks, the man who wielded the axe, has now claimed that he is talking to her about reprising her news-reading role on Andrew Marr's Sunday AM programme, even though it was only a matter of weeks ago that it was revealed she had been dumped from it.

He said: "We are in discussions with Moira about how she can continue in that newsreading role and I would very much like her to continue to read the news for instance on Sunday AM."

The BBC has denied that the claims by Horrock's represent a climb-down. It claimed it had never made any official announcement about her position.

But insiders claim the corporation has been stung by the chorus of disapproval from both industry heavyweights and viewers alike over her treatment.

The corporation was widely accused of ageism over its handling of Miss Stuart, who was Britain's first black woman newscaster.

The row over Stuart's treatment follows accusations in the past that it has dumped senior women from the screen, while letting their male counterparts such as David Dimbleby and Peter Sissons carry on well after retirement age.

Others have claimed that the BBC is desperate to cut costs following a lower than hope for licence fee. There are rumours that BBC chiefs are set to slash costs in its news division and would like to get news presenters to work across more programmes.

Question Time host Dimbleby accused the BBC of 'change for the sake of change' rather than 'common sense', while Radio 4 Today programme host Jim Naughtie had branded the decision 'sad and weird'.

Horrocks strenuously denied the claims that the BBC had been guilty of ageism and said that confidential discussions were still going on with the much loved news-reader who joined the BBC in 1981.

If she does not get her old job back Stuart is still likely to be offered other news-reading roles in the wake of such a strong show of affection from the public.

Stuart, who has earned the respect of millions of viewers for her serious presenting style and has also been handed an OBE, was said to have been "very disappointed" at the BBC's decision to oust her from the show. She confided to friends that she has felt very let down by the corporation over the issue

A BBC spokesman said: "We have never made any official announcement and discussions are ongoing."