Radio Times

In what's widely being viewed as a response to allegations of ageism, BBC director general Mark Thompson has asked news director Helen Boaden to recruit a female newscaster over the age of 50.

A spokesman confirmed that there had been discussions between Thompson, Boaden and other directors about broadening the range of presenters on air - including older women: "News has a pretty good story to tell with Kirsty Wark, Martha Kearney and Maxine Mawhinney all flourishing - as well as highly experienced women out in the field like Bridget Kendall, Caroline Wyatt and Orla Guerin. However, we'd be the first to say that it's important not to rest on our laurels in this area and ensure we reflect the public we serve."

The news comes in the wake of renewed accusations of ageism at the BBC, with 66-year-old choreographer Arlene Phillips controversially replaced on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel by 30-year-old singer and former series winner Alesha Dixon. Newcomer Katya Virshilas, 25, also took over from professional dancer Karen Hardy, 39, in series seven of the show.

Within the last few years, a number of high-profile female newsreaders have disappeared from our screens. After a 30-year career at the corporation, Anna Ford left the BBC in 2006 at the age of 62, while in April 2007 Thompson was forced to deny accusations that her colleague Moira Stuart, 55, had lost her regular news slot because she was "too old". Last year Selina Scott, 58, reached a settlement with Five after suing the channel for age discrimination.

Government adviser Joan Bakewell welcomed the news: "We get lots of jowly white-haired men - that's no inhibitor of employment for them - but it seems to have been an eliminator for women until now. I'm glad it's changing."

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Who do you think should fill the vacancy? Would you welcome past favourites such as Sue Lawley, Angela Rippon, Sue Carpenter or Julia Somerville reading the news again? Or are there other journalists and presenters in the right age group who should be given a chance? Let us know.

Bring back Salina Scott and add some class to the BBC!!

Bring back Salina Scott and add some class to the BBC!!

Moira Stuart is a good candidate for the job there fore she shouldn't be discriminated against

We would like to see Moira Stuart back as a newsreader. Her presentation skills have not been surpassed.

It would be nice for Moira Stuart to return, but also Angela Rippon and Anna Ford, plus very definitiely Kate Adie - if she'd like the job it would be a disgrace if it were not available.

The newsreader I would most welcome back is Moira Stuart. The end of her sentences did not tail off, she spoke clearly, her voice was very reassuring and well modulated.

Away with the mumbling, bumbling ever exaggerated regional accents that no-one speaks, away with prognostications and unwanted opinions. This is the news. Give us the facts. Give us them with clarity. Give us Moira.

Please bring back Moira Stuart. She always delivered the news in a professional way. We were never distracted about how she looked or what she was wearing. We miss her crisp but friendly delivery.

kate adie! on the news and in 'the field'.

she has no equal.

I would love to see Moira Stewart and Anna Ford back on the TV - perfect in all respects.

Please, please bring back Moira Stuart. She's wonderful.

we want Moira back asap

moira stuart she has just enough gravitas for the really serious stuff and a wonderful warm smile

I would like to see Moira Stuart back reading the news again. She should never have been asked to leave our screens.

It's significant that the BBC spokesman quoted thought that news was doing well on older women with Kirsty Wark, Martha Kearney, Maxine Mawhinney, Bridget Kendall, Caroline Wyatt and Orla Guerin, most of whom are only in their 40s - he would never have thought to use the word "older" of men of that age.

It's ridiculous that the corporation is now looking for ony ONE older woman, with all the excellent, professional newsreaders and reporters it has got rid of because of ageist sexism. If it has to be only one, it should be Anna Ford, but obviously Moira Stuart should be brought back too, and they should get Kate Adie out there as a reporter again.

Why not Sarah Kennedy or Fran Godfrey, both of whom have perfect diction?

I would nominate Jenni Murray; she is everything a woman of over 50 (or under for that matter) should be. Professional and in control at all times, comfortable with her size, not afraid to be seen in specs, she has gravitas and a depth of personality so often lacking in the run of the mill, ever increasing rash of half starved skimpily dressed size 6 female presenters, actors and celebrities of all ages.

Thanks. Will this enable me to command better seats in my local restaurant, I wonder? "I've been quoted in the Radio Times, don't you know?" :)

FYI Stuart and MazY - in case you were unaware, your comments were printed in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine (10–16 October 2009; page 144).

Lovely to see a face on tv whether male or female which shows intellegence and having lived more than the first few years of youth. Yes news readers should LOOK as if they understand what they are talking about and not be beauty icons.

My husband and I really missed Moira Stuart and would welcome her back with open arms. She is a consummate professional, easy to listen to, very attractive and not given to the "jammy lips" so beloved of many of the rival newsreaders on other channels. She should have remained one of the greatest assets on the BBC and not fallen prey to the ageism which does not affect the men!

Moira has the confidence of age and experience, the smile of youth and the warm glow of familiarity on our screens. Bring her back as a valued heirloom.

Bring back Anna Ford, Angela Rippon, Sue Lawley, Selina Scott and, of course, Moira Stuart. They are all absolute professionals.

Why on earth did they ever let Moira Stuart go? She's one of the very best. Lets have her back asap. And cut out the irritating background musak/noise from all news bulletins (especially on BBC world service!).

I hate the habit that a lot of presenters today have - mostly some affectation of speech - be it a dirge or some other quirky and irritating mannerism - you know who I mean!!

Moira Stuart was such a professional newsreader and presented the news rather than her own image.

Bring back Moira! Why did she 'go' in the first place.

moira stewart of course!

Please bring back Moira Stuart if she would like to come back.

M0IRA STUART AND SELINA SCOTT WOULD BE NICE

AGREE ENTIRELY,MY CHOICE WOULD BE MOIRA STUART AND SELINA

Having the same name has nothing to do with my choice. Moira Stuart was always calm and clear, with an empathy for whatever she was reading about or discussing. She seems a lovely woman and I would be really pleased to see her on our screens again.

Bring back Moira Stuart. I am 22 years old and have argued against current newsreaders for a number of years. Why do so many newsreaders have speech impediments?! Moira Stuart has the most beautiful elocution and her voice is so smooth, I would welcome her back.

Moira Stuart - definitely! I don't really want to have a go at young newscasters, but the trend these days is self-promotion. Moira was just very professional and her other qualities have been notably recalled by others.

We don't want to stare at ugly people, male or female but there are plenty of lovely older women including Moira Stuart and Anna Ford to choose from.

Let's have the wonderful Anna Ford back!

I would have no objection to any (or all) of your named former newsreaders coming back to read the news if they wish to.
However, it may have been just local politics but on the face of it Beverley Thompson and Geoff Clarke appear to have been 'sacked' from the BBC South East news due to ageism as a younger pairing was being promoted as being the 'new face' of BBC South East.

Moira Stuart, of course, for reasons already given by other commentators. The Beeb owes her an apology too, in my opinion, for having behaved so atrociously in the firstplace.

Bring back Moira Stuart: it was criminal to get rid of her. Also, return Arlene Phillips to Strictly, another calamitous mistake on the part of the BBC.

Moira Stuart,no contest!

Look no further for a female news reader. If they could be persuaded to come back offer it to: Moira Stuart, Anna Ford, Selina Scott,Sue Lawley and Kate Adey as a job share Women are good at that. Maybe the BBC bosses wouldn't feel threatened if they were thinly spread.

How about some newsreaders from radio 4 such as Charlotte Greene, Harriet Cass and Corrie Corfield. They may not be over 50 but have perfect diction and pronouciation.

For my opinion, firstly Moira Stuart would be a VERY suitable newsreader on our screens. Plus, I can't help wondering whether Kate Adie might make a suitable newsreader on TV as well, she's obviously got the reporting experience. And she presents FOOC on Radio 4 perfectly eloquently. Having had a small amount of experience of radio presenting myself, I can't help but think that they might well make very suitable candidates. The annoying thing is that they are even being considered for such a position in such a way!

Moira Stuart, a thousand times over. She's a great presenter; she's perfect on pronunciation and voice modulation; she's got a wonderful range of expressions, and knows how to smile at the right moments; she can express a thousand words with a wry look or a raise of the eyebrow; Quite frankly it was one of the BBC's [many] worst mistakes to assume to enforce their PC on a public who know better and expect better. Hang your heads in shame, Mark Thompson and Helen Boaden, if you know how! But make the right decision now at least.......

Kate Adie, Anna Ford, Selina Scott AND Moira Stewart - lets have all of them!

My nominees - Kate Adie (intelligent, tons of experience - especially in foreign affairs, an icon), Anna Ford (what a voice, authoritative), Moira Stewart (a national treasure). Apparently the female idyll is someone like Pamela Anderson and the Male George Clooney, so if we can accept Evan Davis or Andrew Neil - who aren't exactly known for their looks presenting important programmes, then we shouldn't, either, worry about the looks of female presenters. It's their competence that's important. Neil and Davis are competent and so is Adie. It is a scandal that presenters like Angela Rippon have been demoted to trivial daytime TV while David Dimbleby has a senior job (they both presented 'Election Night' in the 70s when Maggie T won the election).

If you look, the only 'old woman' you'll see on TV, who has any authority and who isn't being ridiculed for her age, is the wonderful Daphne Fowler on Egg Heads (BBC2 6pm weekdays). It's great to see her but there are tens of thousands of women, like her, who watch TV, it's just plain wrong they (and us) don't see more people like Daphne on TV. There is, of course, 'The Old Woman' on Steve Wright In The Afternoon (Radio2), but the joke is wearing thin. She's brilliant but what's her name? She's not just an 'old woman' she's a person.

Enunciation on TV & radio had reached a new low. This morning, for example: terreris, jologis, prade, etc. Bring back Moira Stuart and bring back pronunciation.

Please let's have Moira Stuart back. No one else can match her near perfect enunciation.

Moira Stuart.She has a clear voice, appropriate intonations, lovely smile.

Moira Stuart, without a doubt. It was a mistake to let her go…and maybe the BBC could admit for once that they made a mistake. Of course, she could tell them exactly what to do with their offer, but I think she's far too gracious to play that sort of game.

Yes, bring back Moira Stuart and put a stop to this appalling and grotesque ageism and sexism.

Moira Stuart every time us hard of hearing can hear every word and what a lovely smile

Moira Stuart without doubt.Also Sara Edwards back to BBC Wales News instead of Lucy Owen.

Bring back Moira Stuart. She's got everything neccessary to do the job and most importantly she does it extremely well.

No question - Moira Stuart, Moira Stuart or Moira Stuart!

Bring back Moira Stuart - she's presented every BBC news programme and should be back on our screens fronting the week end news where she left off

Selina Scott - for her voice

Moira Stuart without any doubt whatsoever. She is uber intelligent, has a beautiful voice and a winning smile. PLEASE NOT Angela Rippon or anyone still trying to act 21!!

Moira Stuart every time, she's just tops.

Moira Stuart or Joan Bakewell

Moira Stuart, Moira Stuart or Moira Stuart!

Sorry, meant to say NOT NOT NOT Sue Lawley, Angela Rippon, Sue Carpenter or Julia Somerville. Only Moira Stuart will do. She is excellent.

Definitely bring back Moira Stuart. Definitely NOT NOT NOT Selina Scott, Anna Ford or Kate Adie.

i suggest Angela Rippon as she speaks clearly and is stiill stunning

bring back moira stuart wonderful clear voice

Moira Stewart definitely - and she was great on Have I got News for You? too. Straight and Silly News - well balanced!

So too late the beeb decides it needs an older woman to read the news. The BBC needs a lot more women of all ages especially in the decision making areas then perhaps we'll get some correct decisions.

A well modulated voice, intelligent, non simpering, smartly dressed presenter is important. No stars please but what is even more important is that the BBC raise their standards of news reporting. Where is the fairness and non bias that the BBC were reknowned for?

Who really cares about the age of a news presenter? I'm more put off by strong accents and the new trend towards friendliness in news readers than I am by age. In terms of the required skills for the job, I think you would be hard pushed to beat Moira.

Discrimination is wrong in all its forms, but this evidently well-meant initiative presages the replacement of ability with ideological desirability over time, and that has never proved a good idea, no matter how laudable the motive. BBC News is excellent;to quote a cliche, don't fix things that aren't broken.

Quite obviously, if men's good looks (or lack of them) is anything to go by, you don't have to be a looker to be on national peak time tv. So what's all the fuss about? Sexism and Ageism has never been so blatantly obvious, get a life you guys running the show and let's get people to do the job because they're good at the job and not because they can turn heads. Jeeze, isn't this supposed to be the 21st Century?! I say women should be given the vote too!!!!

I would welcome back Moira Stuart - clear diction and a pretty smile and just a girl as far as I am concerned. If you check my name, you will see I am not being sexist!

If some one can read the news without stumbling, with a producer and newsroom shouting into there ear, age or sex is of no matter. It is a hard skill and I don't have it.