Julia Bradbury starts ageism row at Beeb

A shake-up of staff at the BBC's rural affairs programme Countryfile, where it was announced recently that 36-year-old Julia Bradbury was being brought in and a number of older presenters were being axed, has, according to the Daily Telegraph, led to accusations of age discrimination against woman among the programme's staff.

For while John Craven, 68, and fellow presenter Adam Henson have got to keep their jobs, Juliet Morris, Charlotte Smith and Miriam O'Reilly, all in their 40s or 50s, have been given their marching orders. Michaela Strachan, at 42 the youngest of the current line-up, is also leaving the programme after 11 years.

The paper's BBC source claims that the recruitment of younger faces is directly connected with BBC's decision to move it to a tea-time slot on Sunday to bump up the ratings. "These reporters are experts in their field and have helped to make Countryfile what it is. Yet, when the show lands a more prestigious slot, they are moved aside," said the source.

It is believed that Bradbury, who formerly presented the beeb's Watchdog programme and is considered something of a glamourpuss, will share the main presenting duties with the equally youthful Matt Baker, 30, whose previous credits include Blue Peter.

Needless to say, none of this has gone down well with Countryfile's viewers, who have expressed their unhappiness on various internet forums. One said: "I take it that John Craven still has his job and he's 68. It sounds like it's more to do with not wanting women over 40 presenting on TV, not people over 40. It's a shame as I think the women on Countryfile are very good." While another commented: "Is Julia Bradbury really a 'better' presenter than all the outgoing ones? More photogenic, perhaps." ·