Rowan Atkinson wades in on BBC age row – Daily TV round-up

we all should not judge somebodys because of his / her age ....what matter is the ability to do the job xxxxx

The thing about Miriam's case which sets it apart from this creative expression argument is that she was a reporter rather than an actor who was blatantly dropped from a job which she did perfectly well in favour of a younger person. Although I agree that with the arts there is a matter of whether someone can act a part for which their age is a major obstacle, this cannot ever be justified in the case of journalism.

BBC saying people are too old to work! Cameron saying you have to work until you are OLDER! What a world we are living in these days.

Whoever is sacking people for getting old must be getting younger on each birthday.

Or do they not realise that they too are getting older with every tick of the clock.

I am 48 now and 25 years ago was 1986... a year after of Back to the Future etc.
Now then.... that 25 has passed in the blink of an eye and in the blink of an eye in the opposite direction it will be 2037.

These people who sack others for being old must remember that life is very short and it may be them on a commode within no time. Time waits for no one...

Or are they Peter Pan???

Only a man would make such a peurile statement because men do not suffer from the BBC's disgusting attempts to get rid of any woman who is slightly over the age of 40! Ageism for men is not dead in the BBC but it is for women!

Sorry, in my last post I should have written: *dont perceive of any character *over* the age of 50*; my having written *under* in error.

Oh yes Selina is adorable

And what if the BBC and hollywood told Rowan he was too old to play any of the roles he created, and too past it to create and play in any new stuff. Yeah, be a different story then wouldn't it. I bet he'd soon change his tune then. From: Mildly irritated of Ruislip.

Mr Atkinson has got a cheek! He was way over the hill when he gave us that load of codswallop The Thin Blue Line! Absolute garbage\\\\1

young women look much better than old hags !!!

How you doing mate.?

He has a cunning plan!

Everything you see and hear that is presented via the (entertainment) media is a creative construct - From reporting live at a breaking news story to a documentary - The look, sound and tone is the result of someone going through a creative process to get they result they want. Telling a director he has to use one person in favor of another is akin to telling Van Gogh change the yellow to red because the roses want to be sunflowers.

You're a bloke Rowan. How would you know?

Many employers are mistaken by considering that only young people should be employed for various tasks. Older people, by virtue of age - do not look as photogenic but they are vital to any workforce team. They are more sociable, confident and competent and lead new employees by example. It is then for the new employee to introduce and add their own novel ideas. This ensures that companies move forward into the future. By employing only a young workforce, many years are wasted while the younger generation learns by experience that which the older generation have already learnt. This procedure stagnates the company and it has no chance to move on

If Miriam were being cast for the role of Elizabeth Bennet then fine. But this is a documentary program and I don't really care what age the presenter is so long as I can understand them. The BBC seem to care though, which is probably more to do with silly notions of fashion, image and appeal to people who aren't really watching the program for its content. All too often, 'creative freedom' is a cover for pampering to banality.

hmmmm. arlene phillips is the best example of an injustice where she was replaced by someone who had no experience on strictly which in my opinion was agest.

but on the other hand sometimes people have to hand over the reigns. its like the queen who has had a good run at being queen. poor old charles isn't gonna have much of a go at being king is he??? (might not be a bad thing though).

but back to rowans point... if the role in the script calls for a black man aged between 20 - 25 there's no point in a white girl aged 45 going for it and claiming discrimination when she doesn't get it is there???

I agree with the main thrust of 11Carole22's argument - for example I simple do not understand why the superb news reader Moira Stewart was moved out. She was cool,
professional, bright and looked good. I do not know Miriam O'Reilley's work but if she feels she is the victim of ageism she has every right to fight her corner. Moreover, I believe people watch Countryfile, Time team etc for the intellectual content and I am not convinced that the age of the presenters (provided they know their stuff) is going to adversly affect their enjoyment of the programmes. By the way, how about Sky at Night? In the above context Rowan Atkinson's use of the Pierce Brosnan/James Bond analogy is simply ridiculous.

How come John Craven can still present when it's obvious his dentures don't fit??? Auntie is one eyed.

I think the BBC has also had its day........due to ageism...It's too old....million wasted at the top and on 'useless' departments, far too many people reading the news, toomany roving reporters hanging around murder scenes etc and scenes of other incidents.