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Harriet Harman attacks BBC over 'disappearing older women'
9 Feb 2010
The BBC needs to "wake up" to the dearth of older females on its programmes, Women and Equality Minister Harriet Harman said today.
The House of Commons leader said older women have disappeared from the small screen - much to the irritation of viewers.
Echoing previous comments she made on the issue, Ms Harman wrote in the Radio Times: "No-one wants the BBC to be a gerontocracy, dominated by elders. But the BBC doesn't allow women to age. If you add up the ages of BBC news presenters, it seems that the women have to be 10 years younger than the men."
She said: "Instead of women becoming more prominent on our BBC programmes as they get older, they seem to disappear.
"This is a waste of female broadcasting talent and annoying to older viewers... There is nothing wrong with older women. There is nothing wrong with older women who look like older women.
"I am glad that at least it does seem possible for the BBC to value older men: David Dimbleby and Bruce Forsyth spring to mind. But where are the older women?"
The MP added: "You have to be experienced to anchor a big programme like Any Questions or This Week.
"But the women are pushed off our screens before they reach their fifties. When they are young they are not experienced enough to anchor these sorts of programmes. When they are older they are dispatched as 'past it'.
"It's not good enough to have the man on the screen as the authoritative figure supported by a youthful, compliant woman.
"The BBC needs to have 'an Arlene Phillips' rule to remind themselves of the women on the BBC who just get better and better."
BBC director general Mark Thompson recently said, following criticism of the decision to axe Strictly Come Dancing judge Phillips, 66, and replace her with Alesha Dixon, 31, that the corporation had "taken on board" that viewers wanted "much more than just youth on screen".
The corporation has been appointing more female newsreaders over 50.
Reader views (14)
Bit of luck Harriet you will be doing the same in a few weeks, can't wait, lovely jubbly, as Del boy from Peckam would say.
- Terry, london, 10/02/2010 14:37
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Let us hope this ghastly woman continues to spout her nonsense right up to the election. Labour should lose by a greater margin.
- Michael, London, UK, 09/02/2010 18:05
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Batty Hattie is the older woman that I am most looking forward to disappearing from the BBC and every other channel after May 6th.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 09/02/2010 14:26
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Tokenism was a rampant feature of the Blair administration. Labour's principled and strong women were rarely chosen, but of the many Blair's babes who were 'given' office, very few remain. Many have disappeared without trace or having made their mark in any kind of contribution that will be remembered, except for the wrong reasons.
H. Harman, is making a belated plea for the older woman. Her government has long had influence with the BBC and no-one from there has, over the years, ever brought the issue of the disappearing older woman from all the BBC media outlets to public prominancee. Why is that Harriet? Is this belated plea a self serving older woman's soon to be out of a job, demand while she can still grab the headlines?
Others made it an issue when Moira Stuart then Arlene Phillips, both immensely popular with their audiences, were sacked. Their abrupt dismissals genuinely saddened and angered the public. They were both experts and professionals in their fields, and secondly, were very much liked for who they were.
Riding on the public outcry of disappearing older women from public life, is shamelessly jumping on the bandwaggon. Too late to be credible or effective. It would have made a difference when you had power. As a fading, failed party and government, it's just cynical vote-fishing. A dismal performance - too little, too late.
- Catherine, London, 09/02/2010 12:29
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Sometimes I wish she would just shut up and stop humiliating herself. Then I realise the more she is allowed to carry on trotting out her uber PC rubbish the more likely the UK will never see the likes of her in politics ever again.
Carry on Harriet your doing a fantastic job!
- Loki, Roskilde, DK, 09/02/2010 10:25
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I just can't wait for the supremely irritating Mad Hatty to disappear from the political screen, she's is more Oozlum Bird than disappearing woman!
- The Bigmaddog, BARKING!, 09/02/2010 10:15
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Roll on the next election. It can't some soon enough.
By the way, I notice her husband is being put up for election in a safe seat, so we may not be able to get rid of her completely after all.
- Kate, London, 09/02/2010 10:15
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Despite the fact that Harperson is something of a joke, I actually agree with her on this point.
- George, London, 09/02/2010 10:14
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Viewers valuing Brucie! Can't wait for him to retire and for the BBC to bring in a new presenter for Strictly. He's been past his sell by date for years, possibly decades. Not a good example. But what we really need is to get rid of the older men from politics and bring in some older females. Er, how about Harriet Harman taking over from Gordon Brown? I'm sure nothing could be further from HH's mind...
- John, Cobham, UK, 09/02/2010 10:11
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Does she really think this sort of garbage is going to help Labour win?
- Londoner, London, 09/02/2010 09:16
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Will anyone be sorry to see this gobby woman exit from the political scene.???
- Alan, Essex, 09/02/2010 09:07
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Is she looking for a job?
- Tojo, Hythe, 09/02/2010 08:43
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I look forward to Ms Harperson joining the ranks of the 'disapearing older women'....not that I have anything against the rest of them.
- Clifftop, london, 09/02/2010 08:34
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Harriet Harman is the Tories best election weapon!
- Andy, London, 09/02/2010 08:33
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