A former presenter on the BBC’s Countryfile programme has today won an age discrimination case against the corporation.
Miriam O’Reilly was moved off the show along with a number of other presenters, all in their 40s and 50s, when the show was given a prime time slot on Sunday evenings. They were replaced by Julia Bradbury, aged 36 and Matt Baker, aged 32. She took action against the BBC, saying that she was axed because she was a woman “of a certain age” and has now won her case following a 12-day hearing in November.
Ms O’Reilly claimed at the hearing that she had been forced out of other work because the BBC was unhappy about the negative publicity the legal fight attracted and won despite former colleagues saying that she was axed because of a lack of commitment towards the show and concerns over her performance.
Following the ruling Ms O’Reilly is now expected to receive substantial damages from the corporation.
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1346089/Miriam-OReilly-wins-age-discrimination-case-BBC.html