In this week of celebrating the Suffragettes and increased equal representation for women,
the latest edition of the BBC Radio Times magazine doesn’t seem to get it!
In case you don’t buy the Radio Times, each day’s schedule is preceded by a two page spread highlighting some of the day’s programmes.
The main photo is titled Pick of the Day and fills 25% of the article.
Saturday 10th Feb
Elliot Daly and Alex Cuthbert Rugby Players MALE
Sunday 11th Feb
Shaun Evans and Roger Allan Actors MALE
Monday 12th Feb
Carey Mulligan Actor FEMALE
Tuesday 13th Feb
Douglas Henshall Actor MALE
Wednesday 14th Feb
Nameless Mammoth hunter MALE
Thursday 15th Feb
Ardal O’Hanlan Actor MALE
Friday 16th Feb
Nigel Slater Chef MALE
There is a second photo highlighting another programme in the bottom right of the spread.
Saturday 10th Feb
Kim Cattrall Actor FEMALE
Sunday 11th Feb
James Norton Actor MALE
Monday 12th Feb
John Simm and Adrian Lester Actors MALE
Tuesday 13th Feb
Joe Wicks Body Coach MALE
Wednesday 14th Feb
Group of actors MALE and FEMALE
Thursday 15th Feb
Helen Czerski Scientist FEMALE
Friday 16th Feb
Lydia Wilson Actor FEMALE
I don’t know if this week’s edition of the BBC Radio Times is typical. It only struck me this week because there’s a special Winter Olympics supplement in the middle of the magazine which celebrates and supports an equal balance of female and male winter athletes. That surprised me and prompted this little survey. I’ll check again next week.
We hear a lot about equal pay issues for top presenters at the BBC but if this example of institutionalised sexism at the BBC is typical, they’ve still got a long way to go.
image credit: By Christina Broom died 1939 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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I was thrilled yesterday to find that the Evelyn Waugh Society has linked to one of my blogposts. If you’re interested in knowing more about this giant of English Literature, the Evelyn Waugh Society website explores many fascinating aspects of Waugh’s life and writing.
There’s a new adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s comedy novel Decline and Fall on BBC One. Did you watch it? The adaptation is in three parts and it started last week.
In a nutshell, from the BBC blurb:
When Paul Pennyfeather is unfairly expelled from Oxford University, it kick starts a disastrous chain of events that no one could have anticipated.
Jack Whitehall (Fresh Meat) is playing Paul Pennyfeather and veteran actor David Suchet (Agatha Christie’s Poirot), is Dr Fagan. The cast also includes Eva Longoria, Douglas Hodge, Vincent Franklin, Stephen Graham, Gemma Whelan and Katie Wix. It’s a strong cast with lots of good cameo roles as well.
Through no fault of his own, Paul is sent down from Oxford. He needs a job and goes to a recruitment agency for school teachers. He is sent to a minor public school, Llanabba, in Wales where the pupils are unruly and discipline is difficult to maintain. Paul asserts his authority with the pupils using one of the funniest classroom one-liners ever:
There will be a prize of half a crown for the longest essay, irrespective of any possible merit.
And Paul’s class settles down to work in diligent silence!
Paul’s success in classroom management catapults him into other management roles for the Headmaster culminating in a dramatic fireworks display at the end of episode one. Well worth watching.
There’s a good review from The Guardian and we’re looking forward to the next episode on Friday.