Miriam O’Reilly to sue BBC over employment law dispute

Posted 02/02/2010

TV presenter Miriam O’Reilly is to take her former employers at the BBC to court after alleging they breached employment law relating to ageism and sexism.

The 52-year-old broadcast journalist has accused the corporation of discriminating against older female presenters after she was axed from the BBC One programme Countryfile in 2008.

Ms O’Reilly told the Times she was informed that her departure came as part of a move to “refresh” the show, an initiative which also saw Juliet Morris, Charlotte Smith and Michaela Strachan depart.

She has described the removal of four female presenters as an “insult” and has already commenced legal action via an employment tribunal.

The presenter said: “I think it’s an insult to the viewers for women like us to be dropped … I can’t walk away and leave it because I believe what’s happened to me is wrong.”

Older people’s charity Age Concern last year also accused the BBC of ageism following the departure of Arlene Phillips from Strictly Come Dancing, adding that this trend is representative of wider discrimination against older workers.