While I have no problem with a (gorgeous and sexy) female presenter, choosing an unsuitable lady simply because they need to have a woman would be a bit daft.
Sorry to say - in my career - there was a huge 'positive discrimination' in favour of women and while many of them were great and still are, a lot of them were selected for the wrong reasons and promoted above their ability or commitment. I think this is what John is alluding to... some sort of quota system as is now being proposed for High Tech Boards of Directors (whether or not qualified individuals in the right number exist).
My daughter aged 12 is soon to leave a school where all the girls do ballet and gymnastics, the boys do football and rugby and cricket, and the culture is ridiculously out of date. Many of the girls would already not dream of an engineering career or similar which is a terrible shame and think it's cool not to be good at maths or science. But forcing women into unsuitable jobs because of a quota is nearly as daft as perpetuating traditional stereotypes in little old middle England.
Oh, and by the way, only about 1 in 10 of the mothers at this school have salaried jobs, most drive Land or Range Rovers of one sort or another, most have personal trainers, private medicine and 5 holidays a year. Makes me cringe this spoilt and inconsistent society of ours. Off to the club now for a G&T before Tiffin...
Angela Rippon is available I believe for Top Gear (but for her that's Fourth.
