BBC exec defends O'Reilly Countryfile axe

Countryfile required a major shakeup to make "pretty dull" rural issues more captivating for BBC viewers, an industrial tribunal has heard.

Andrew Thorman, the BBC's head of rural affairs, was speaking at a hearing in London for an age and sex discrimination complaint brought by former Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly.

53-year-old O'Reilly has accused the BBC of discrimination after she lost her job on the show in the revamp, which saw Julia Bradbury and Matt Smith drafted in as presenters.

Thorman told the tribunal that the programme needed a whole new look for when it transferred from its regular Sunday-morning slot to primetime Sunday nights last year.

He said that the shakeup was fully supported by Jay Hunt, the then controller of BBC One, who wanted presenters with more primetime experience.

"Jay and I did not specifically discuss Miriam in deciding which presenters to use. I had to consider specific criteria that Jay had emphasised," he said.

"Miriam did not fulfil these criteria. She did not have the experience of presenting on primetime television and she did not have the peak-time profile that was needed.

"This was not a reflection of her skill as a reporter or her knowledge of rural affairs. The decision had nothing to do with Miriam's age or sex."

Thorman said that there was a need to "find a way of grabbing viewers' attention at a busy time of day", including hosts who could make rural issues which might "seem pretty dull" become more entertaining for viewers.

Last week, O'Reilly told the tribunal that she was warned "to be careful with those wrinkles when high definition comes in" just months before she was dropped from the show.

She said that she was "devastated" by the news that she would lose her job when the show relaunched in April 2009 with Julia Bradbury, then 38, and Katie Knapman, then 36.

Michaela Strachan (42), Juliet Morris (52) and Charlotte Smith (44) were also taken off the show, but main presenter John Craven, 68, and Adam Henson, in his 40s, were kept on.

O'Reilly also claimed that she was victimised by the BBC because she was suspected of having "leaked stories about the BBC and ageism".

Thorman told the tribunal that he has known O'Reilly for 25 years and they had an "excellent working relationship" after collaborating on various BBC programmes.

However, he said that the relationship soured in the wake of the Countryfile revamp and the pair had not spoken since. The industry tribunal continues.