A BBC presenter last week told how she was axed from CountryFile at 44 because she was not young and pretty enough for prime-time TV. Charlotte Smith told a tribunal she was warned by one of the shows directors that she was too old and not sufficiently attractive.She and colleagues Miriam OReilly, now 53, Juliet Morris, 55, and Michaela Strachan, 44, were dropped from the Sunday morning show when it was re-launched and moved to a prime-time evening slot in 2009.
Giving evidence at a tribunal brought by OReilly against the BBC for age and sex discrimination, Smith said she felt they were dropped from the show because they were older women.
There was a general feeling among the staff that the four women presenters had been badly treated and we could have fitted in with the new prime-time programme.
I heard in November or December 2009 that there was a shortage of presenters on Countryfile.
I laughingly said that I might be available and I was told by a member of the team that while I might be able to do the job I wouldnt pass the prime-time test because I wasnt young and pretty. She named the team member as Sam Bailey, one of the shows directors.
Smith, who has always worked at the BBC and hosts Farming Today on Radio 4, said the attitude was reflective of the organisation.
It was obviously discussed a lot by members of the team and the comment was a reflection of what they thought the BBC corporate wanted. I do believe that the BBC decided to remove us from Countryfile because we were older women.
They wanted that programme to feel and look younger and they felt they could not do that with us.
Post published in: News