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‘It’s a tough time to be a 60-year-old white dude’: Eamonn Homes slams ‘youth-obsessed’ BBC, reveals he told ex-bosses to ‘fuck off’ after being told it attracted to too many old listeners
Eamonn Holmes slammed the ‘youth-obsessed’ BBC, revealing he told former bosses to ‘fuck off’ after they said it attracted too many old listeners.
The 63-year-old TV presenter was ousted by Radio 5 for “attracting the wrong kind of people” in 2009.
Holmes told Kay Adams’ How To Be 60 podcast: “It’s a tough time to be a 60-year-old white guy, absolutely without a doubt.”
“Nobody is interested in choosing you, nobody is interested in planning a program around you, nobody is interested in your experience. You don’t check the right boxes for them in terms of your sexuality, your ethnicity.
You are at the bottom of the list when it comes to options. I read things like, ‘Eamonn is male, pale and stale’ and think, ‘What are you talking about?’ I see myself as the best of my game.
Eamonn Holmes has criticized ‘youth-obsessed’ TV bosses for not employing middle-aged white men.
Holmes said Radio 2 legend Ken Bruce, 72 (pictured),’s decision to follow Steve Wright, Paul O’Grady and Vanessa Feltz out of the BBC highlights their ageism issues. Bruce leaves Radio 2 next month
Last month, Vanessa Feltz, 60, accused the BBC of ‘ageism’ after it was claimed that Ken Bruce turned down a contract and left Radio 2 because of ‘seemingly younger and younger DJ bosses’ who brought in and his ‘daringest’ playlist.
He added: “In our industry, this obsession television has with youth is laughable.”
The presenter revealed that a BBC Radio Live boss invited him to lunch in 2009 and told him he was attracting too many old listeners.
“So we lasted the first term, then I basically told him to fuck off and that was the end of it,” he said.
“I would continue working until I was 70 years old. I feel like I have a lot to contribute, I’m on the other side of world events. I don’t think he’s an old fool.
Holmes said Radio 2 legend Ken Bruce, 72,’s decision to follow Steve Wright, Paul O’Grady and Vanessa Feltz out of the BBC illuminates his ageism issues.
Former BBC 2 presenter Steve Wright, 68, announced he would leave the show in November last year after 23 years.
Paul O’Grady, 67, resigned from his BBC Radio 2 show in August last year.
The GB News presenter of Breakfast with Eammon and Isabel, 63, spoke two years after he and his wife Ruth Langsford were replaced by Alison Hammond, 48, and Dermot O’Leary, 49, on ITV’s This Morning.
Last month, Vanessa Feltz, 60, accused the BBC of ‘ageism’ after it was claimed that Ken Bruce turned down a contract and left Radio 2 because of ‘seemingly younger and younger DJ bosses’ who brought in and his ‘daringest’ playlist.
The star broadcaster will leave the corporation next month after 45 years, and his mid-morning show after 31 years, taking his beloved PopMaster contest with him to Greatest Hits Radio.
Fans wept and vowed not to listen to Radio 2 again when Ken’s contract expires in March.
But his departure has left the BBC at the center of another storm of ageism, as another of its biggest stars for decades is gone.
Ms. Feltz claimed that Beeb released her after she was in her 60s.
She said that older presenters “aren’t valued in the same way”, commenting, “The music isn’t as appealing because they’ve changed it to appeal to a younger crowd that they’re so desperate to get.”
She added on ITV’s This Morning: “Think of all the people who left: Paul O’Grady left.” I’ve gone. Steve Wright is there, but not much. Chris Evans is gone. Graham Norton too.’