The BBC has clashed with the Anchor Trust over claims that it has less over 50’s working for it than rival ITV.

The trust, a major provider of housing and care for the elderly, says its “older faces audit” found that only 20% of actors and presenters working for the BBC were over 50 compared to 27% on ITV. The BBC’s response was that it did not think the survey provided an accurate response of its output which comes soon after the major row over Arlene Philips being replaced by Alesha Dixon on Strictly Come Dancing.

The corporation has recently made a high profile bid to attract old presenters and the axed newsreader Moira Stuart has returned as the newsreader on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Chris Evans, and former ITN reporter, Julia Somerville has joined them.

Anchor’s chief executive, Jane Ashcroft said it was scandalous that television was not representing the over 50’s more fairly and that it was time for executives to embrace the wealth and talent on offer from them rather than casting them aside.

The BBC replied citing the cases of Arlene Philips, Sir David Attenborough and Sheila Hancock as examples of older people who will remain with the corporation.

Only last year Weakest Link Presenter Anne Robinson, 64, joined the debate about television and ageism and said: “All television is ageist and sexist. There are a lot of pretty young things on television with not much talent.”

What are your views? Do you have a particular career or job success story achieved in your Third Age?

If the Anchor Trust, providing housing and care for the aged is not 'agist' what is? Why should younger people be discriminated against?

I recently saw a program with Ann Robinson travelling with her daughter in the US. I think if the nasty old trout had been my mother I would have strangled her. A thoroughly nasty piece of work she is. I always thought her “Weakest Link”  was a character she played but it's real.