TV Presenter Wins Ageism Row

To her delight, Miriam O'Reilly has now been given another role as co-presenter on Crimewatch Roadshow on BBC daytime, since winning her court case against the BBC for sacking her from her job as countryfile presenter.

It was in April 2009 that the 53-year-old presenter was sacked from Countryfile a rural magazine show when it was moved to a primetime BBC1 slot. It was a huge life-shattering blow for Ms O'Reilly who suffered a massive drop in confidence following her unfair job loss. Miriam was not the only middle-aged presenter to be sacked on grounds of age; there were other female presenters in their 40s and 50s who similarly suffered job losses while even older male presenters such as John Craven then 68 were kept on, giving cause to accusations against the BBC of sexism as well as ageism.

Ms O'Reilly said, "Being dropped from the programme, I believe because of my age and sex, really affected my confidence," and added that it had left her "devastated".

Following Ms O'Reilly's success at winning her case she received an apology from the BBC saying that the channel would like to "discuss working with her again in the future." Since then she has been given her new job on the Crimewatch Roadshow beginning on 6 June 2011.

Ms O'Reilly will present live broadcasts from streets across the UK while former detective Rav Wilding will be hosting the show while based in the studio.

Liam Keelan, BBC Daytime controller, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Miriam to the team."

Mr Keelan added, "Crimewatch Roadshow has gone from strength to strength over the last two years, and I know that Miriam's proven experience as a journalist will only strengthen the series."

Miriam expressed her delight and enthusiasm to be working on a programme that could make a huge difference to people's lives, bringing many criminals to justice. She is, she said, really looking forward to "getting back to the buzz of live TV" while putting her journalistic skills to good use.

There are varied reactions from viewers to the BBC's sacking of older presenters along with the channel's moving of the popular magazine programme. Some viewers think older presenters have had their day and should be replaced by younger ones while others are saying that presenters such as Miriam are not exactly old being only in their fifties. Young presenters says one viewer are ruining his favourite programme!

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