The age gap between male and female presenters on British TV has grown significantly in the past decade and women are only half as likely as their male colleagues to be employed past the age of 50, according to new research.
Dr Judy Todd, a consultant anaesthetist from University Hospital in Ayr, Scotland, found that the gender age gap has grown to an average of seven years and 11 months, and only a quarter of female TV presenters are employed over the age of 50, whereas more than half of male presenters are 50 plus.
Meanwhile, figures are even more pronounced for the over 60s with only 3.1 per cent of female presenters still working at that age, whereas 18.3 per cent of male presenters are still employed after the age of 60.
The age gap on the ITV show This Morning is 11 years between Philip Schofield aged 57 and Holly Willoughby, 38 (pictured)
In the past ten years the gender age gap has increased by nearly two years and the average age of female TV presenters is 44 years and one month, whereas for men it is 52-years-old.
Dr Judy explained: ‘Our gender age gap research has exposed a glass ceiling of opportunity for women on TV after the age of 50.’
‘The vast majority of women are basically being written off when they reach 50 and it’s hard to see any other reason for this other than they don’t look as telegenic, attractive and youthful as they used to.’
‘This is clearly not something that the male presenters have to deal with as their careers are more than twice as likely to continue into their 50s and 60s
AVERAGE AGES
The average age of female presenters has risen since 2010 from 40 years two months and average male presenters’ age was 46 years nine months.
It has not kept pace with the rate of increase of men’s ages and the age gap has grown 18% from six years seven months to seven years and 10 months today.
Last year the broadcasting industry was rocked by the gender pay gap scandal which showed that women earned up to 22 per cent less than male colleagues doing the same job, but now another major disparity of working conditions has been exposed.
The gender age gap was seen to run across most sectors of broadcasting including entertainment, sports and news and current affairs.
‘The gender age gap has grown significantly in the past 10 years and something needs to be done to prevent what is a clear case of discrimination.’
‘It is not just a problem in the broadcasting industry. There is growing discrimination for mature women in the UK to get jobs and promotions after they hit 50.’
‘Many of my female clients in their mid to late 40s tell me that job opportunities for women become seriously reduced after 50, which is one of the main reasons why they are having aesthetic rejuvenation treatments.’
The data was compiled by analysing regular presenting staff on TV programmes on terrestrial television channels in 2019, taking the average age of the male presenting team and the female presenting team to find the gap between them.
The only mainstream show on terrestrial TV which had older female presenters than the men was Bake Off on Channel 4.
X FACTOR AGE GAP: 22.5 YEARS
Male judges
Simon Cowell: 60
Louis Walsh: 67
Average male age: 63
Female judges
Nicole Scherzinger: 41
Average female age: 41
The X Factor judges – including Simon Cowell, 60, and Louis Walsh, 67, Nicole Scherzinger is 41 (pictured)
CHANNEL 4 NEWS AGE GAP: 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS
Male presenters
Jon Snow: 72
Matt Frei: 55
Krishnan Guru-Murthy: 49
Average male age: 58
Female presenters
Cathy Newman: 45
Jackie Long: 53
Fatima Maji: 34
Average female age: 44
The Channel 4 news team. Pictured: Krishnan Guru-Murthy, 49, Jon Snow, 72, Matt Frei, 55, Cathy Newman, 45, and Jackie Long, 53
THIS MORNING AGE GAP: 19 YEARS
Male presenter
Philip Schofield: 57
Average male age: 57
Female presenter
Holly Willoughby: 38
Average female age: 38
Holly Willoughby is 19 years younger than her This Morning co-star Philip Schofield
STRICTLY COME DANCING AGE GAP: 10 YEARS
Male judges
Bruno Tonioli: 63
Craig Revel Horwood: 54
Average male age: 58.5
Female judges
Shirley Ballas: 59
Motsi Mabuse: 38
Average female age: 48.5
The Strictly Come Dancing judging panel: Left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, 54, Motsi Mabuse, 38, Shirley Ballas, 59, and Bruno Tonioli, 63
BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT AGE GAP: 9.5 YEARS
Male judges
Simon Cowell: 60
David Walliams: 48
Average male age: 54 years
Female judges
Amanda Holden: 48
Alesha Dixon: 41
Average female age: 44.5 years
The Britain’s Got Talent panel – including David Walliams, 48, Alesha Dixon, 41, Amanda Holden, 48, and Simon Cowell, 60. Pictured at auditions in 2013
SKY NEWS AGE GAP: 9 YEARS 2 MONTHS
Male presenters
Dermot Murnaghan: 61
Mark Austin: 61
Adam Boulton: 60
Ian King: 53
Colin Brazier: 51
Average male age: 57 years 2 months
Female presenters
Kay Burley: 58
Anna Botting: 52
Jayne Secker: 47
Emma Crosby: 42
Sarah Jane Mee: 41
Average female age: 48
Adam Boulton, 60, pictured right with Sophy Ridge, was amongst the men considered in the age gap research
BBC OLYMPICS TEAM AGE GAP: 8 YEARS 3 MONTHS
Male presenters
Sir Steve Redgrave: 57
John Inverdale: 62
Jonathan Agnew: 59
Average male age: 51 years 2 months
Female presenters
Gabby Logan: 46
Clare Baldwin: 48
Helen Skelton: 36
Average female age: 42 yrs 9 months
At last year’s Olympics, the average age of female presenters and pundits was 42.9, but the male presenting team was 51.2. Those considered included Gabby Logan, 46, and Clare Baldwin, 48 (centre)
ITN NEWS AGE GAP: 6 YEARS 9 MONTHS
Male presenters
Alastair Stewart: 67
Tom Bradby: 52
Rageh Omaar: 52
Average male age: 57
Female presenters
Mary Nightingale: 56
Julie Etchingham: 50
Nina Hossain: 45
Average female age: 50 yrs 3 months
The findings found the ITN news presenters have an age gap of six years and eight months. Pictured, Alistair Stewart, 67 (left). Nina Hossain, 45 (right) was amongst the ITN news female colleagues considered in the findings – along with Mary Nightingale, 56 and Julie Etchingham, 50
BBC’S SIX O’CLOCK/ 10 O’CLOCK NEWS AGE GAP: 6 YEARS
Male presenters
George Alagiah: 63
Clive Myrie: 55
Huw Edwards: 58
Clive Myrie: 59
Average male age: 58 years 9 months
Female presenters
Sophie Raworth: 51
Fiona Bruce: 55
Reeta Chakrabati: 54
Sophie Raworth: 51
Average female age: 52 years 9 months
Reeta Chakrabarti (pictured left), 54, was amongst the female presenters considered for BBC’s Six O’clock News. Pictured with Jasmin Buttar (centre) and Howell James at the Dods & Scottish Widows Women in Public Life Awards 2008 in London
GOOD MORNING BRITAIN AGE GAP: 5 YEARS 6 MONTHS
Male presenters
Piers Morgan: 54
Richard Arnold: 49
Ben Shephard: 44
Sean Fletcher: 45
Average male age: 51 years 6 months
Female presenters
Suzannah Reid: 48
Charlotte Hawkins: 44
Kate Garraway: 52
Laura Tobin: 38
Average female age: 46
Good Morning Britain is presented by Piers Morgan, 54, and Suzannah Reid, 48 (pictured together on the show)
GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF AGE GAP: 20 YEARS 6 MONTHS
Male presenters
Paul Hollywood: 53
Noel Fielding: 46
Average male age: 49 yrs six months
Female presenters
Pru Leith: 79
Sandi Toksvig: 61
Average female age: 70 years
The Great British Bake Off was the only mainstream show on terrestrial TV which had older female presenters. Pictured, Paul Hollywood, 53, and Prue Leith, 79