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| BBC dismisses Maria Miller's demand for action over sports sexism | BBC dismisses Maria Miller's demand for action over sports sexism |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The BBC has dismissed a call by the culture secretary to take further action over Wimbledon commentator John Inverdale's sexist comments, with the corporation saying it "considers the matter closed". | The BBC has dismissed a call by the culture secretary to take further action over Wimbledon commentator John Inverdale's sexist comments, with the corporation saying it "considers the matter closed". |
| Director general Tony Hall has fired off a response to Maria Miller, who said in a letter published on Thursday that Inverdale's remarks about Marion Bartoli undermined her efforts to promote women in sport, admitting that the incident was "totally unacceptable and fell well beneath the standards we expect of our presenters". | Director general Tony Hall has fired off a response to Maria Miller, who said in a letter published on Thursday that Inverdale's remarks about Marion Bartoli undermined her efforts to promote women in sport, admitting that the incident was "totally unacceptable and fell well beneath the standards we expect of our presenters". |
| Despite Inverdale issuing an on-air apology and sending a letter to Bartoli, Miller called for an explanation about "further action" to be taken by the BBC. | Despite Inverdale issuing an on-air apology and sending a letter to Bartoli, Miller called for an explanation about "further action" to be taken by the BBC. |
| The BBC considers the incident, which attracted more than 700 complaints, to have been dealt with – a spokesman said "The BBC considers this matter closed now." | The BBC considers the incident, which attracted more than 700 complaints, to have been dealt with – a spokesman said "The BBC considers this matter closed now." |
| In Hall's letter, which was sent to the culture secretary on Wednesday and published on Thursday, he reveals that Inverdale was also "spoken to" by BBC director of sport Barbara Slater as well as Jonathan Wall, the controller of Radio 5 Live. | In Hall's letter, which was sent to the culture secretary on Wednesday and published on Thursday, he reveals that Inverdale was also "spoken to" by BBC director of sport Barbara Slater as well as Jonathan Wall, the controller of Radio 5 Live. |
| "[They] have both spoken to John to make it clear that his comments were unacceptable and that an incident of this nature must never happen again," said Hall. | "[They] have both spoken to John to make it clear that his comments were unacceptable and that an incident of this nature must never happen again," said Hall. |
| The main thrust of Hall's two-page letter is to remind the culture secretary of the growing extent of the BBC's coverage of women's sport. | The main thrust of Hall's two-page letter is to remind the culture secretary of the growing extent of the BBC's coverage of women's sport. |
| He points out that it is broadcasting the women's Euro 2012 championship on BBC3, understood to be the first time it has been aired on a main BBC channel, as well as the upcoming Women's British Open Golf Championship. | He points out that it is broadcasting the women's Euro 2012 championship on BBC3, understood to be the first time it has been aired on a main BBC channel, as well as the upcoming Women's British Open Golf Championship. |
| Miller, and sports minister Hugh Robertson, are boycotting the men's Open as it is being held at Muirfield, a club that only admits men as members. Inverdale is anchoring the BBC's coverage of the event. | Miller, and sports minister Hugh Robertson, are boycotting the men's Open as it is being held at Muirfield, a club that only admits men as members. Inverdale is anchoring the BBC's coverage of the event. |
| "The BBC has a proud record of supporting women's sport, as I am sure you will have recognised ... we are building on the fantastic success of the Olympics, with a team including many women broadcasters," he said. "There is unprecedented coverage of women's sport across the BBC this summer." | "The BBC has a proud record of supporting women's sport, as I am sure you will have recognised ... we are building on the fantastic success of the Olympics, with a team including many women broadcasters," he said. "There is unprecedented coverage of women's sport across the BBC this summer." |
| He added that the corporation has appointed an "editorial lead" specifically for women's sport which has "helped to ensure significantly increased coverage across our daily sporting output, such as on 5 Live, the News channel and Breakfast TV, as well as online". | He added that the corporation has appointed an "editorial lead" specifically for women's sport which has "helped to ensure significantly increased coverage across our daily sporting output, such as on 5 Live, the News channel and Breakfast TV, as well as online". |
| He signs off by reiterating that he takes matters in the realm of equality, diversity and sexual harrassment – whether in the workplace or relating to on-air editorial judgment – "very seriously across the BBC". | He signs off by reiterating that he takes matters in the realm of equality, diversity and sexual harrassment – whether in the workplace or relating to on-air editorial judgment – "very seriously across the BBC". |
| Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust, was included as a recipient of Miller's letter to Hall criticising the BBC. | |
| A spokeswoman for the BBC Trust said that it was happy to leave the matter to Hall, and it did not plan to intervene in the affair. | |
| "We are aware of the letter from Maria Miller, and we are very happy with the director general's response to it as we are sure will be the secretary of state," said the spokeswoman. "We have every confidence in the director general and his team including the director of sport, Barbara Slater, to continue to deal with issues of gender in the coverage of sport and in other areas of the BBC's operations and output." | |
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