BBC 'shows contempt' towards older viewers

Published on Saturday 15 August 2009 20:12

THE BBC treats older viewers with "utter contempt", according to one of its own journalists.

Newsnight's Michael Crick was one of several BBC staff interviewed in its in-house magazine, Ariel, regarding culture secretary Ben Bradshaw's warning about the corporation developing "a cult of youth".

Crick said: "It's a barmy policy which shows utter contempt for many of our viewers. Commercial channels have to focus on young people as they are the ones susceptible to advertising. The BBC should have no such worries. We should respect and cherish our older viewers who are loyal to us, and a growing part of the population.

"The average Newsnight viewer is 55. How many Newsnight staff are older than 55? Jeremy Paxman and one or two others.

"Men are allowed to become old on television, but not women. Where are all the grey-haired women? A very large chunk of the population is now made up of women over 55, but they are certainly not represented on television."

Bradshaw made his remarks this month after the removal of 66-year-old dance expert Arlene Phillips from Strictly Come Dancing.