The BBC turfed men out of the studio yesterday morning, as it aired entirely female editions of the Today programme and BBC Breakfast.
The flagship radio and TV shows were anchored by female presenters and only featured female guests in order to mark the centenary of British women getting the vote.
It came amid the ongoing pay gap row embroiling the BBC as high profile female journalists have hit out at the corporation for alleged wage discrepancies.
The BBC turfed men out of the studio yesterday morning, as it aired entirely female editions of the Today programme and BBC Breakfast (BBC presenters past and present at Portcullis House in support of equal pay at the corporation)
But whilst many licence fee payers welcomed the all female line-up, the corporation also faced a backlash from male audience members.
Listeners complained that the BBC was devoting too much airtime to women’s issues, as it featured discussions on subjects ranging from women’s career advancement to maternity pay.
One listener said: ‘The network has been completely taken over by the radical feminist agenda. Will we be celebrating the liberated male sex in 100 years’ time?’
Another switched off because he was fed up of listening to ‘men-bashing and women’s stuff’.
A third accused the BBC of sexism against men.
And, it was not just the BBC’s audience members that were disgruntled by the shift.
Corporation insiders also complained that the BBC is now devoting too much airtime to women.
One male staff member told the Mail that there was ‘a growing feeling of discontent’ amongst men at the BBC who feel that they are paying the price for the gender pay row.
The corporation has already forced a handful of high profile male presenters to take pay cuts – and is now forcing mid-ranking presenters off screen, he said.
‘I fully support the argument that female presenters should be paid the same salaries as men, but this seems to be a violent and OTT reaction to it [the pay row].
‘A lot of male presenters, and especially younger male presenters, feel they are not being given the same opportunities as the women.’
His comments are likely to get a frosty reception from the BBC’s female staff who are in open revolt after years of being under-paid compared to the corporation’s men.
The flagship radio and TV shows were anchored by female presenters and only featured female guests in order to mark the centenary of British women getting the vote
Last month Carrie Gracie famously resigned as the BBC’s China editor in protest at the broadcaster’s ‘secretive and illegal’ pay structure.
Meanwhile, hundreds of women have lodged formal grievance complaints against the broadcaster, whilst their lawyers have warned that the BBC is ‘sleepwalking’ into a legal row that could cost hundreds of millions.
Sarah Montague and Mishal Husain fronted yesterday’s edition of Today, broadcasting the flagship Radio 4 show from Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament.
Last month Carrie Gracie (pictured) famously resigned as the BBC’s China editor in protest at the broadcaster’s ‘secretive and illegal’ pay structure
Their all-female line up of interviewees included Amber Rudd, the home secretary, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden.
Miss Arden, who is currently pregnant with her first child, called for greater progress on tackling pay equality and domestic violence.
Meanwhile, Louise Minchin and Steph McGovern anchored yesterday’s BBC Breakfast show, whilst Carol Kirkwood presented the weather and Holly Hamilton fronted the sports bulletin.