BBC in ageism row after Radio 6 Music DJ Liz Kershaw, 63, accused station chiefs of sacking her because she is over 60
The BBC is facing another ageism row after broadcaster Liz Kershaw accused radio station chiefs of sacking her because she is older than 60.
The 63-year-old presenter’s departure from BBC Radio 6 Music looks set to reignite criticism of the corporation’s treatment of older women, after she tweeted: ‘I got sacked from @BBC6Music because they don’t want women over 60.’
Kershaw, who had been with the station for 20 years until her departure in March, was responding to a campaign calling for a parliamentary debate on the way ‘women are being erased from public services and institutions’.
It is the latest controversy to hit the BBC. In 2011 presenter Miriam O’Reilly, then 53, won a case for age discrimination against the corporation after she was dropped from its flagship rural affairs show Countryfile.
The 63-year-old presenter’s departure from BBC Radio 6 Music looks set to reignite criticism of the corporation’s treatment of older women, after she tweeted: ‘I got sacked from @BBC6Music because they don’t want women over 60.’
Two years ago, fresh allegations of ageism arose when the BBC announced that Sue Barker’s 23-year stint as host of A Question Of Sport was coming to an end. The 66-year-old broadcaster, who said last week that this year’s Wimbledon would be her last as a BBC presenter, was replaced by comedian Paddy McGuinness, who is 48.
Kershaw’s last major project for BBC 6 Music was the 16-part Legends In Their Own Lunchtime series in which she chatted to music icons including Debbie Harry, Boy George and Pete Townshend.
Friends of the DJ, who found fame in the 1980s, claimed the BBC had never explained the reason for her show being axed. ‘The show had strong ratings and then Liz was told that it wasn’t wanted anymore,’ said one. Of course, nobody said to her that the decision had been motivated by her age. In fact, she has never been given a reason.’
Two years ago, fresh allegations of ageism arose when the BBC announced that Sue Barker’s 23-year stint as host of A Question Of Sport was coming to an end. The 66-year-old broadcaster, pictured, who said last week that this year’s Wimbledon would be her last as a BBC presenter, was replaced by comedian Paddy McGuinness, who is 48
A BBC insider rejected claims of sexism and ageism, pointing out that Kershaw had recently presented a four-episode Radio 2 series on the biggest-selling musical acts of the Queen’s reign as part of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
But Kershaw stood by her claims last night, saying: ‘I don’t want it to be all about me because I think it’s a bigger issue than that. At the same time, I don’t think it’s a job for life and you do have to make room for new people.
‘But it just seems quite remarkable that whereas there are many men in their sixties, seventies and eighties on these pop stations there are hardly any women.’
A spokesman for the BBC said: ‘All radio schedules evolve over time and after 16 episodes of Liz Kershaw’s Legends In Their Own Lunchtime in a year, we wanted to explore other music stories. There were no other factors involved in the decision and we are proud to have a diverse range of presenters on TV and radio.’
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