Kirsty Young complains about TV 'ageism'

Kirsty Young has insisted that the attitude of British broadcasters towards older women needs to change.

Young, 39, has praised American television bosses for their treatment of older TV hosts, and called for British chiefs to follow suit.

"There are only a few older women in broadcasting in the UK and it is time that changed," she explained. "You only need to look to America to see that there are more women in their senior years who are regarded very highly - people like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters."

Asked if she expects the situation to change, Young replied: "I bloody hope so because I'd quite like to keep working for a while."

The BBC was accused of ageism when it was announced that Young would be replacing Crimewatch hosts Nick Ross, 60, and Fiona Bruce, 43.

"Nobody came to me and said, 'We think you're the fresh-faced future of the BBC because you're under 40'. If there was somebody saying, 'We have to make Crimewatch younger,' I can't imagine I was top of their list," Kirsty insisted.

"I mean, I'm hardly bouncing around in a pair of hot pants and Perspex high heels. Nick and Fiona have both done a brilliant job. I suppose that me coming in is like giving it a bit of a spring clean."