Thompson: 'BBC values older women'

The Director General of the BBC has insisted that the institution values older women.

Mark Thompson was defending the BBC after recent claims that it is ageist for replacing Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips, 66, with 30-year-old Alesha Dixon.

"The BBC values the contribution of older women immensely," he told WI Life, the Women's Institute magazine.

"The decision to replace Arlene Phillips on Strictly Come Dancing wasn't motivated by ageism, and no other broadcaster can claim to serve and represent older women as well as the BBC.

"However, this debate demonstrates that viewers want much more than just youth on screen, and at the BBC we've taken the points made very much on board."

Thompson added: "More broadly, the whole industry needs to be reminded of the value of highly experienced presenters and performers."

He praised stars such as Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale, Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave and Annette Crosbie, and added that the BBC has a "duty" to serve all audiences.

"Both in the programmes and the people on screen, serving and representing older women is a core part of what we do," he said.