Selina Scott to sue Five for ageism
01/09/2008 - 17:05
Selina Scott plans to sue Five for age discrimination, The Guardian revealed on Monday.
Newsreader and TV presenter Selina claims that the channel went back on an agreement that she would cover for [strong]Natasha Kaplinsky[/strong] when she goes on maternity leave next month because she is too old.
Selina, 57, is said to be looking for compensation under age discrimination laws after the channel announced Isla Traquair, 28, and Matt Barbet, 32 would cover the news.
A Five spokesman said: "We do not accept this claim and will be vigorously defending it."
It's not the first time that Selina, who joined ITV's News at Ten in 1980 and helped launch the BBC's Breakfast Time programme in 1983, has accused the media of ageism.
Earlier this year, Selina highlighted the difficulties for older women in TV news: "How many women are there on mainstream current affairs programmes who are over 50?" she said.
"Anna Ford has retired, Moira Stuart has been bumped, yet you look around and see lots of men."
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