Former Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly, who lost her job when the show was moved to a prime-time slot, has won her employment tribunal against the BBC on the grounds of age discrimination, the corporation reported today.
The award-winning journalist, who is 53, reportedly won the age victimisation claim against the BBC following a decision to drop her from the show in advance of a move to a Sunday evening slot. She is understood to have lost her claim for sex discrimination.
O'Reilly was "devastated" when she was told in November 2008 that she was being dropped after eight years of working for the show as a freelance, the central London employment tribunal was told.
Three other female Countryfile presenters aged over 40 - Michaela Strachan (42), Juliet Morris (45), and Charlotte Smith (44) - were also axed alongside O'Reilly.
The 10-day tribunal in November heard allegations that O'Reilly was warned to be "careful with those wrinkles when high definition comes in", asked whether it was "time for Botox" and offered a can of black spray dye to cover up a white gap on her head.
The programme relaunched in April 2009 with Julia Bradbury, then 38, and former Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker, then 30,, along with veteran broadcaster John Craven (68), who was kept on for a slot called "John Craven Investigates".
It was also announced that they would be supported by presenters Adam Henson, James Wong, Jules Hudson and Katie Knapman.
The BBC denied the claims brought by O'Reilly and insisted that she had been dropped because she lacked the necessary peak-time television presenting experience.
PA