BBC Director-General Tim Davie has been mocked for his “ridiculous” decision to no longer call his high-profile presenters “talent”, citing “abuse of power” as one of the key factors for the move.
Discussing the change on Radio 4’s Today programme, Davie claimed that no-one at the corporation is “indispensable”, and follows a review which concluded that they must ensure “everyone at the BBC conducts themselves in line”.
Davie told host Nick Robinson: “We often refer to people like yourself as talent but I’ve kind of banned that. You’re a presenter, I’m a leader of the organisation, and we’re here to serve.
“I think the BBC is utterly committed – you see us acting in good faith to get at this (issue) – and I would say (it is) important that everyone is treated equally regardless of rank.”
Nichi Hodgson hit out at the BBC’s ‘ridiculous’ decision to remove the word ‘talent’ from their presenters
PA / GB News
Reacting to the admissions of Davie, commentator Nichi Hodgson said it was a “ridiculous” thing to do, given the recent controversies surrounding the BBC.
Hodgson told GB News: “This is absolutely ridiculous. If you thought it couldn’t get more ridiculous at the BBC and their investigations into their talent, or presenters as they’re now going to be called, it has.
“I think the reason for it is silly. It’s to do with the Huw Edwards case, and the Jermaine Jenas case. He’s just saying that it’s no longer appropriate to call anyone talent.”
In disagreement with Hodgson, host Isabel Webster threw her support behind Davie and argued that he is “spot on” with his verdict on the term “talent”.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie has admitted he has ‘kind of banned’ the term ‘talent’ for his high-profile presenters
PA
Isabel explained: “I think it has contributed to that power imbalance that has led to these unhelpful and very toxic, unhealthy relationships.
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“I always remember just feeling uncomfortable when someone’s referred to me in that way because plenty of our peers, not us, but plenty of our peers have no talent.
“And plenty of our colleagues who aren’t presenters have abundant talent and are not recognised for it.”
In agreement with Isabel, Eamonn Holmes then added: “I remember when I first learned that as a presenter I was called talent and I thought, there’s so many people who just don’t have talent.
“But the reason there is not much talent will be to do with budgetary things.”
Isabel Webster admitted she has ‘always felt uncomfortable’ with being called ‘talent’
GB News
Comparing the BBC to the workings of the NHS, Eamonn continued: “The BBC’s like the National Health Service, it does far too much. It’s very good at certain things and it’s not very good at other things – I would notice and Isabel would notice, but the rest of the people wouldn’t, like directing on certain programmes.
“The thing about TV is they don’t want you to know anything about TV. They just want you to do what you’re told, basically, at the end of the day.”
Offering her final thoughts on Davie’s admission, Hodgson said: “The talent is behind the scenes, working so hard – the people that never get the the praise.
“Everybody that tries to make us look decent as well, the makeup people.”