Atkins slates "laddish" TV presenters

Dame Eileen Atkins has slated "laddish" female TV presenters in an interview with the Radio Times.

The 74-year-old actress, who recently won a BAFTA for her role in Cranford, said women TV hosts often make her feel uncomfortable.

She remarked: "My skin crawls when I see laddish women presenting television shows who almost slap their thighs as if they're in panto.

"I think 'Stop. This isn't what we meant by feminism'. It's gone completely wrong. Women think they can have a fantastic career and four children, and knock themselves out trying to do it all."

Atkins, who spurned the advances of Colin Farrell on the set of Ask The Dust, also voiced her objections to acting dynasties.

She said: "There's no such thing as a 'legend'. Nearly everyone has forgotten Laurence Olivier. What's that dreadful word - 'dynasty', as in the Redgraves and Foxes? Acting is not in the blood, otherwise what are Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and I doing here?"

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