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Sandi Toksvig: BBC denied me host role because I'm a woman Sandi Toksvig: BBC denied me host role because I'm a woman
(about 11 hours later)
Writer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig has said she was turned down as the original host of the BBC’s long-running panel show Have I Got News For You because she is a woman.Writer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig has said she was turned down as the original host of the BBC’s long-running panel show Have I Got News For You because she is a woman.
Toksvig, the outgoing presenter of Radio 4’s the News Quiz, said she recorded a pilot for the show 25 years ago and was the preferred choice of programme-makers.Toksvig, the outgoing presenter of Radio 4’s the News Quiz, said she recorded a pilot for the show 25 years ago and was the preferred choice of programme-makers.
“They made two pilots – one with me and one with Angus Deayton,” she told the new issue of Radio Times magazine. “I was told by the producers that they preferred my version, but the channel decided they couldn’t have a woman in charge.”“They made two pilots – one with me and one with Angus Deayton,” she told the new issue of Radio Times magazine. “I was told by the producers that they preferred my version, but the channel decided they couldn’t have a woman in charge.”
Asked if it made her angry, Toksvig said: “Of course, but it also made me feel inadequate and question whether I was really up to it.”Asked if it made her angry, Toksvig said: “Of course, but it also made me feel inadequate and question whether I was really up to it.”
The claims, albeit a quarter of a century later, will be an embarrassment for the BBC, coming at a time when its track record of employing women, both on-screen and in senior positions behind the scene, has come under close scrutiny.The claims, albeit a quarter of a century later, will be an embarrassment for the BBC, coming at a time when its track record of employing women, both on-screen and in senior positions behind the scene, has come under close scrutiny.
The BBC director general, Tony Hall, was told by the BBC Trust to put more women on air “as a matter of urgency”, with Hall himself saying the corporation has to be “more reflective of its audiences”.The BBC director general, Tony Hall, was told by the BBC Trust to put more women on air “as a matter of urgency”, with Hall himself saying the corporation has to be “more reflective of its audiences”.
Toksvig, who will step down as the host of the radio show next week, later appeared as a guest on the very first edition of Have I Got News For You, which aired on BBC2 in 1990, alongside its regular team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton. Deayton was dropped as its presenter in 2002 after revelations about his private life.Toksvig, who will step down as the host of the radio show next week, later appeared as a guest on the very first edition of Have I Got News For You, which aired on BBC2 in 1990, alongside its regular team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton. Deayton was dropped as its presenter in 2002 after revelations about his private life.
The show has since been fronted by a different presenter each week and has continued to thrive, watched by around 6 million viewers in its Friday night BBC1 slot.The show has since been fronted by a different presenter each week and has continued to thrive, watched by around 6 million viewers in its Friday night BBC1 slot.
Toksvig said: “I thought Angus was very good and he’s an extremely nice chap, but I would not have been caught with either prostitutes or cocaine. So possibly I would have been a better bet in the long run.”Toksvig said: “I thought Angus was very good and he’s an extremely nice chap, but I would not have been caught with either prostitutes or cocaine. So possibly I would have been a better bet in the long run.”
The BBC looked to address the lack of women on its panel shows last year when its director of television, Danny Cohen, announced a ban on all-male lineups. But the announcement was criticised by some high-profile comics and presenters, including Dara Ó Briain, who said last year the BBC should have evolved instead of legislating for token women. The BBC looked to address the lack of women on its panel shows last year when its director of television, Danny Cohen, announced a ban on all-male lineups. But the announcement was criticised by some high-profile comics and presenters, including Dara Ó Briain, who said last year the BBC should have evolved instead of legislating for token women. Ó Briain said he agreed with the policy but by making it public it might undermine some people “who’ve been on millions of times [and] suddenly look like the token woman”.
Related: Sandi Toksvig to leave Radio 4’s News QuizRelated: Sandi Toksvig to leave Radio 4’s News Quiz
Toksvig herself joined in the criticism last year, saying: “I know there has been a great push to get more female panellists on television, and I don’t think that’s the answer.Toksvig herself joined in the criticism last year, saying: “I know there has been a great push to get more female panellists on television, and I don’t think that’s the answer.
“But if you get more female hosts, you’ll immediately have more women taking part, without it causing any trouble at all. They bring a different tone and make it easier for other women to feel comfortable about participating, so I would be a big fan of more female hosts on quiz shows.”“But if you get more female hosts, you’ll immediately have more women taking part, without it causing any trouble at all. They bring a different tone and make it easier for other women to feel comfortable about participating, so I would be a big fan of more female hosts on quiz shows.”
The corporation has continued to face accusations of ageism and sexism from people such as the BBC’s former reporter and documentary film maker Olenka Frenkiel and award-winning former Newsnight reporter Liz MacKean.The corporation has continued to face accusations of ageism and sexism from people such as the BBC’s former reporter and documentary film maker Olenka Frenkiel and award-winning former Newsnight reporter Liz MacKean.
The former Countryfile presenter Miriam O’Reilly, who won a landmark age discrimination case against the BBC four years ago after she was dropped from the show, said: “From what I am told by women working at the BBC today, sexist and ageist attitudes towards them thrive.The former Countryfile presenter Miriam O’Reilly, who won a landmark age discrimination case against the BBC four years ago after she was dropped from the show, said: “From what I am told by women working at the BBC today, sexist and ageist attitudes towards them thrive.
“Women feel powerless to do anything about it because they are concerned that speaking out could affect their careers.”“Women feel powerless to do anything about it because they are concerned that speaking out could affect their careers.”
Toksvig, who succeeded Simon Hoggart on the News Quiz nine years ago, said she was daunted when she first took charge of the long-running Radio 4 favourite.Toksvig, who succeeded Simon Hoggart on the News Quiz nine years ago, said she was daunted when she first took charge of the long-running Radio 4 favourite.
“I think I was daunted by it. Even nine years ago having a woman in charge of the show seemed quite radical,” she said.“I think I was daunted by it. Even nine years ago having a woman in charge of the show seemed quite radical,” she said.
Related: Dara Ó Briain hits out at BBC ban on men-only panel showsRelated: Dara Ó Briain hits out at BBC ban on men-only panel shows
She said the morning after her first outing as presenter, the producer rang her to say there hadn’t been a single complaint. “What he meant was no complaints about a woman presenting,” she says.She said the morning after her first outing as presenter, the producer rang her to say there hadn’t been a single complaint. “What he meant was no complaints about a woman presenting,” she says.
Toksvig added: “I’m not giving up broadcasting. It’s just, as a presenter, I can’t be seen as overtly political and I do find that restricting.”Toksvig added: “I’m not giving up broadcasting. It’s just, as a presenter, I can’t be seen as overtly political and I do find that restricting.”
Toksvig is one of the founding members of the new Women’s Equality party, which plans to field candidates in the 2020 general election. She said: “I have made jokes over and over again about politics and I’ve had enough. This election, I decided that instead of making jokes about politics, I need to take part in it and therefore I can’t make jokes and participate.”Toksvig is one of the founding members of the new Women’s Equality party, which plans to field candidates in the 2020 general election. She said: “I have made jokes over and over again about politics and I’ve had enough. This election, I decided that instead of making jokes about politics, I need to take part in it and therefore I can’t make jokes and participate.”
Asked whether the situation is better for women in broadcasting now, she said: “I want to be positive and say yes, but the election coverage was so predominantly male, it made me a bit depressed.”Asked whether the situation is better for women in broadcasting now, she said: “I want to be positive and say yes, but the election coverage was so predominantly male, it made me a bit depressed.”
John Lloyd, the former Blackadder producer and creator of the News Quiz, hosted the original pilot of Have I Got News For You when it was going to be called John Lloyd’s Newsround. Lloyd, who now makes another panel show, QI, for BBC2, dropped out after deciding he did not want to present the show full time.John Lloyd, the former Blackadder producer and creator of the News Quiz, hosted the original pilot of Have I Got News For You when it was going to be called John Lloyd’s Newsround. Lloyd, who now makes another panel show, QI, for BBC2, dropped out after deciding he did not want to present the show full time.
He described Toksvig’s departure as a “national tragedy”. “It is very exciting how many good female comics are out there now,” said Lloyd. “It’s fascinating how far attitudes have changed. It’s difficult to know whether it’s broadcasters being more proactive, but something [has changed],” he added.He described Toksvig’s departure as a “national tragedy”. “It is very exciting how many good female comics are out there now,” said Lloyd. “It’s fascinating how far attitudes have changed. It’s difficult to know whether it’s broadcasters being more proactive, but something [has changed],” he added.
“We used to complain how difficult it was finding enough women to fill panel games but in the last, I would say, less than five years, that has turned completely on its heads. There is a raft of incredibly good female comics out there.”“We used to complain how difficult it was finding enough women to fill panel games but in the last, I would say, less than five years, that has turned completely on its heads. There is a raft of incredibly good female comics out there.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “We’re proud of the fact that the BBC of today has a huge range of women presenters across TV and Radio including Tess and Claudia, Mary Berry, Anne Robinson, Fiona Bruce, Clare Balding, Kate Humble, Clemency Burton-Hill, Clara Amfo, Annie Mac, Louise Minchin, Sophie Raworth, Emily Maitlis, Ritula Shah and many others.”A BBC spokesperson said: “We’re proud of the fact that the BBC of today has a huge range of women presenters across TV and Radio including Tess and Claudia, Mary Berry, Anne Robinson, Fiona Bruce, Clare Balding, Kate Humble, Clemency Burton-Hill, Clara Amfo, Annie Mac, Louise Minchin, Sophie Raworth, Emily Maitlis, Ritula Shah and many others.”