Why does it have to be a woman??

The BBC, in order to fight so-called 'ageism' resorts to sexism, no?

The BBC is looking to recruit a female newsreader who is over the age of 50 as part of attempts by the corporation to head off allegations of ageism.

Mark Thompson, the Director-General, has personally ordered Helen Boaden, the broadcaster’s news chief, to find the female broadcaster within the next twelve months, but the corporation hopes to make the appointment much sooner.

The BBC has constantly faced allegations that female presenters are forced out of the corporation at a certain age, in favour of younger, more attractive, women.

Veteran presenters Moira Stuart and Anna Ford are both thought to have quit after fearing they would be sidelined or forced out because of their age. Ford, who quit in 2006, said at the time that she worried she might have been “shovelled off . . . into the graveyard shift”.

It is not yet clear whether the new appointment would work for the BBC News channel or on the corporation’s flagship BBC One bulletins, but the broadcaster is thought to have approached agents to help identify candidates.

Joan Bakewell, the Government’s ageism czar, told The Times that she had raised the matter with Mr Thompson and Ms Boaden in meetings with the corporation.

She said: “I’ve been in conversation with them for some time behind the scenes. I really strongly feel that there should be an older woman on our screens.