Anchor Trust has accused the BBC of not having enough older people in its programmes, compared to rival ITV. The company commissioned an "older faces audit" that claims only 20% of presenters and actors on BBC One are aged over 50.This compares to 27% on ITV1, based on figures collated during one week.
Needless to say the BBC said it did not believe that the study provided an accurate reflection of its output.
Why can I not excited by this ‘research’. Perhaps because it is blatantly a PR ‘research project’ – nothing wrong with that – but don’t let’s confuse it as being something done for the good of mankind rather than generating a few column inches.
Secondly, if we want to start counting faces we might come up with some other interesting observations. Too many/too few non-whites. Too many/too few women rather than men. How about counting people over the age of 75 – the age group that Anchor is involved with.
Savour this moment. There are few times when I write to defend the BBC but this is one of them. Dick Stroud
2 comments:
I like that you think. Thank you for share very much.
I don't know how many wrinkly old presenters like me there are on Sky, then - not many, I imagine.
I suppose I try to make up for the shortfall - I've now got caravanning shows on every day at 7pm (one on Sky 166 and one of Sky 216, as of next Tuesday) . . . so there's at least one old git on the box!
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