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BBC may break law recruiting older newsreader
25 Sep 2009The BBC insisted today that it will press ahead with plans to recruit an older female newsreader to its presenting team, despite warnings that the corporation could find itself breaching employment laws.
Director general Mark Thompson has asked director of news Helen Boaden to find a suitable candidate.
The recruitment drive follows a backlash against the corporation after experienced choreographer Arlene Phillips was axed from Strictly Come Dancing.
But Jill Andrew, of law firm Dawsons LLP, warned that the initiative could see the BBC landing itself in more hot water - as employers cannot specify that they want someone of as particular age or sex.
The corporation insisted today that it was not seeking to exclude any age or gender in its recruitment.
A statement said: "In fact we are trying to ensure that our presenters reflect the audiences we serve, representing a wide range of ages and backgrounds.
"We recruit on merit. However, we encourage interest from areas we know are under-represented."
No specific minimum age has been set, but it is understood the BBC wants to recruit someone aged about 50.
A BBC spokesman said: "We're looking for the best presenters, from whatever age, gender and background."
Asked if he was worried about legal action from prospective employees who missed out, the spokesman said: "We are conscious of employment law. We are going to make sure what we do is consistent with the law."
Responding to a question about whether the appointment may be seen as tokenism, the spokesman pointed to senior BBC faces such as Kirsty Wark, Orla Guerin and Maxine Mawhinney, adding: "I don't think you could say it would be somebody out of kilter with what is already happening."
But employment lawyer Ms Andrew has warned the corporation could find itself in a legal pickle.
She said yesterday: "Employers simply cannot specify that they are looking for someone of a particular gender or age as it appears the BBC has done.
"A young, up and coming male newsreader could have every right to feel aggrieved at this apparent news.
"There is no compensation ceiling for discrimination cases. Should the BBC find itself in front of an employment tribunal, they and ultimately the taxpayer could face a hefty bill."
In 2006 Anna Ford left BBC News after 30 years, at the age of 62, saying she felt she would have been sidelined into a "graveyard shift" if she had carried on, and in 2007 Mr Thompson was forced to defend the corporation against allegations that Moira Stuart had left because she was too old.
Stuart, then 55, was left with no regular slot after being dropped from BBC Breakfast and Andrew Marr's Sunday AM programme.
Andrew Harrop, head of public policy at Age Concern and Help the Aged, yesterday welcomed Mr Thompson's intervention.
He said: "It is right that the BBC should aspire to have presenters that better reflect all sections of our society.
"Older broadcasters frequently have outstanding skills and experience so no special treatment should be needed to ensure more of them find work.
"Time and again the public have made it clear they want to see older people treated equally on television, with our most recent polling finding 71% of the British public are happy to see older women on screen."
Reader views (10)
I don't mind who reads the news if I can understand them. Real broadcasting voices with good diction are few and far between =- especially among the young "celebrity" types.
Daren Jordan is an enormous loss; while Sian Williams remains a great asset. A university education in itself does not necessarily make a good speaker.Any more than that awful kindergarten-like "telly-speak" taught to those with neither imagination nor character.
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Mildenhall, Suffolk., 27/09/2009 21:37
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I am glad BBC is recruiting older female newsreader. Just because female have age that does not mean they cannot perform thetask. I am 58 year old female and was made redundant last year. I am find hardto findsuitableemployment because of age discrimation.
Well done BBC you are setting good example for the rest of country.
- Pratima, London nw2 7dl, 25/09/2009 16:24
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Bring back Moira Stuart. Please?
Top class, professional newsreader. Wanton waste to have dispensed with her services. Those responsible should be sacked.
- Geoffrey, London, 25/09/2009 16:18
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All the persons mentioned have gained a pension that the rest of multitude can only dream of.
- William, Hay~Heath UK, 25/09/2009 15:00
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If Bruce Forsythe is still prancing round the TV at 80+ - why then does the BBC have no representation of women of 60+ and older. The only time they make an appearance on the BBC screen is in an acting role.
- Plum Duff, London N12, 25/09/2009 13:29
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The BBC haven't been dumbing down, although my eyes and ears tell me otherwise. Similarly, they have denied discriminating against female newsreaders in spite of dispensing with the likes of Anna Ford (who apparently jumped before she was shunted into a "graveyard"), Arlene Philips and Moira Stewart for no apparent reason apart from the corporate doublespeak at which our national broadcaster excels.
Attempting to put right these these blunders, the Beeb lets it be known that it is seeking to redress the balance, and promptly comes up against the PC Brigade!
You couldn't make it up!!
- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 25/09/2009 13:24
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Positive discrimination - no matter how well intentioned is always wrong.
That said I would love to see Moira back on the news.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties, 25/09/2009 13:17
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No the BBC already do break the law.
Ageism at the BBC is common knowledge among TV production companies who are often given verbal briefs telling them what age group programme presenters should be. If a fair recruitment process were in place then some older presenters would easily get the job on grounds of skill, knowledge, experience and gravitas. The Beeb would not need to adopt positive discrimination they would just have to truly abide by their own favourite mantra of being ‘an equal opportunities employer’ instead of using it as a tool to recruit unintelligible lightweights because their inaudible regional accent, image or sex appeal fits their twisted agenda and ticks a box.
- Lyndon, Westminster, 25/09/2009 13:16
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Why is the BBC so obsessed with age and sex?
Downageing, particularly among women, has been rife. Now we are to go the other way
We want the best, male, female, 30, 50, whatever
Have they not important things to consider?
- Rod Gray, Berwick upon Tweed, 25/09/2009 13:00
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All they need to advertise is for someone with at least (i.e) 20 years experience in "the field" of expertise.
Experience and ability should ALWAYS win over age in the job market, but the media (especially)is so image conscious that this is rarely the deciding "X" factor nowadays.
All part of our "yoof" driven culture`s terminal decline, we would like to think, however, that institutions of "excellence like the the BBC (muffled laughter) would know better, and lead the way for once?
Simples.
- Darius, London UK, 25/09/2009 12:59
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