Austin criticises "pretty" newsreaders

Mark Austin has hit out at broadcasters for hiring newsreaders based on their looks.

Austin, who presents ITV's early evening bulletin and anchored News At Ten prior to Sir Trevor McDonald's return, questioned the qualifications of "pretty" and "handsome" newsreaders in an interview with the Radio Times.

He said: "Well, I do think there are a number of pretty young women and handsome young men without a solid journalistic background reading the news nowadays... naming no names, but particularly on the 24-hour news channels."

He added: "I do believe, though, that they'll get found out. You don't need to have been to a war zone to read the news, but it does help."

Austin's comments are at odds with those of BBC journalist Andrew Marr, who admitted that he fails to comprehend "why reading an autocue earns you so much money".