Mariella Frostrup, the broadcaster, has accused the producers of BBC's Radio 4's Today programme of being "a bunch of misogynists" and of refusing to hire women over the age of 50.
Mariella Frostrup, the broadcaster, has accused the producers of BBC's Radio 4's Today programme of being "a bunch of misogynists" and of refusing to hire women over the age of 50.
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In an interview with The Lady magazine, Frostrup, 47, who hosts Radio 4's Open Book, blamed BBC bosses for not giving adequate opportunities for women in presenting roles.
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According to The Times, earlier this year Ceri Thomas, a male producer at Radio 4's flagship news programme Today, said there were fewer female presenters because they were "too thin-skinned" to work on the show. Sarah Montague is the only female presenter, on the programme alongside four male colleagues.
Frostrup attacked Thomas's comments, saying: "The reason there aren't more women on the Today programme is that they are all a bunch of misogynists."
Last year Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC, announced a drive to get more women into frontline positions, but Frostrup said that the BBC had over-egged their search for female presenters over the age of 50.
"It's not hard," she said. "All they have to do is look through the list of people they've sacked in the preceding two years and they would find plenty. They made it sound like they were trying to find the Holy Grail. Yet the streets are littered with women who would be perfectly good at doing that job."
Montague last night defended Mr Thomas, denying that he was a misogynist.
"It was simply clumsy phrasing. I can honestly say that I have never felt more supported in my role than I have been since I joined the show," she said.
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