Ageism? Oh Really? No, O'Reilly!

The successful outcome of Miriam O'Reilly's case against the BBC for ageism is no success at all.  It's pure farce.  Here is a woman who presented a gentle, low profile daytime show called Countryfile.  With a new incarnation in a Prime Time Sunday night slot, the show needed to be spruced up to justify its high profile move.  Miriam was a freelance presenter, perfectly adept and privileged to have held on to this gig for 7 years - that's a lifetime in TV.  But anyone who works in telly will telly you, prime time is a totally different ball game from daytime.  Prime time needs bigger names or if telly ever dares take a risk, exceptional characters and if it's not expert territory, then commissioners will look for TV presenters who put bums on seats.  And yes, they'll probably be lookist and maybe even ageist but if an older presenter has got magnetism and a talent to entertain/inform, then age will not be an issue.  Admittedly, sometimes in the younger prettier models, talent might be overlooked.  It might not be right but it's how it works and most presenters know the name of the game.  And if you're a freelance, you absolutely know that no job is guaranteed for life.  A judge will not understand the rules of telly.  It's a different jungle and you can't legislate for the success of a programme or its presenters.  Where the BBC failed the axed Countryfile presenters was in its arrogance in handling the termination of their contracts.  Jay Hunt, the then controller of BBC1 did herself no favours and hopefully has now learned that even freelancers have feelings.  Prick them and some of them will sue.  And they'll drag your dirty emails and cavalier pronouncements through the court with them.  Her lax attitude to a lowly presenter's job has slapped her in the face.  To that end, a good lesson should have been learned but this has not been an edifying experience.  It highlights the unfairness in an industry that favours the young, the pretty, the funny, the original and the unique.  But that's what it's for.  I don't want to watch ordinary, safe and pleasant.  And I couldn't give a damn for wrinkles and fat so long as whoever's on my screen entertains, informs or does both.  Miriam may find she's got a job for a year but once the heat is off, I reckon she'll be off with it.  Telly is a glamorous industry and fair has never been synonymous with glamour.