BBC faces 'ageism' claim

11:00am Sunday 28th March 2010

* Print
* Email
* Share
* Comments(0)


THE BBC is facing calls to increase the number of older people in its programmes as new research reveals 17% of people in the South-West feel BBC1 portrays a negative image of older people.

The news came as the ‘Older Faces Audit’ revealed that only 20% of the presenters and actors on the BBC’s flagship channel are over 50, compared to 27% on its main commercial rival ITV1.

During the week-long observation of national terrestrial television, ITV1 also featured more over 50s on its news and current affairs programmes than BBC1 (31% vs. 28%).

The audit was commissioned by Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people, to examine the age profile and depiction of older people on the five major terrestrial television channels.

BBC1 lost out in the battle of the soaps, with 26% of people in the South West saying ITV1 soap Coronation Soap treated older people positively, just ahead of the 25% of the region in favour of Eastenders’ depiction of older faces.

Anchor Chief Executive Jane Ashcroft is calling for a fairer representation of older people in the media. She said: “As a culture we dramatically undervalue the contribution older people make to society and this problem is perpetuated by the media’s fixation with youth.

“It is scandalous that the over 50s are not represented more fairly on television, particularly when they are the fastest growing demographic in this country.

“Rather than condemning older presenters and actors to the scrap heap, it is time for television executives to embrace the wealth of talent and experience they can offer.”

The ‘Older Faces Audit’ also examined the representation of older women on TV. Only one in five (20%) female presenters are over 50, compared to one in four (25%) of their male colleagues.

BBC stalwart David Attenborough was the media personality who most viewers in the South-West felt depicted a positive image of older people.

The Life on Earth presenter won 31% of the vote, ahead of challengers Sir Trevor McDonald (11%) and Bruce Forsyth (9%).

In response to the findings of the Audit, Anchor Chief Executive Jane Ashcroft will be writing to the BBC Trust and Chief Executive of ITV calling for greater representation of older people within the media.

The Older Faces Audit and further information about Anchor can be found at www.anchor.org.uk