TV execs told 'young women will bring bigger audience'

Veteran TV presenter David Dimbleby has spoken out over the issue of age discrimination in TV.

Speaking to the Radio Times he said there was a section of television executives who "are always being hammered" to get the biggest audience, and they are told "attractive young women will bring in a bigger audience".

The discussion began when Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly won an age discrimination case against the BBC after she was rejected for a role on a revamped version of the rural affairs programme.

The Controversy continued when Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips was replaced with younger Alesha Dixon, despite the then director general Mark Thompson saying that the corporation had "taken on board" that viewers wanted "much more than just youth on screen".