Antiques Roadshow veteran recalls staff outrage over BBC diversity-target plan

Antiques Roadshow veteran Andy McConnell says staff were outraged when BBC bosses told them the corporation planned to appoint new presenters to meet diversity targets. The 72-year-old, who has valued antique glass on the Sunday-night programme since 2005, recalled a London briefing from 2018 in which a producer said the BBC hierarchy wanted more presenters who were women, gay or people of color to meet 'percentage targets'. They were followed by a riot because one of the presenters, who is actually gay, stood up and said, "Hang on, if you are pushing positive discrimination for gay people how come I have gone down from five to three shows this year"? The producer actually asked if the person had told them they were gay. That remark provoked further outrage. Another contributor said, "Do we now actually have to declare our sexuality to the BBC?" The briefing took place in London in 2018, the same year Ofcom reported that fewer than half of the broadcaster's staff were women, prompting the BBC to launch its diversity drive.

Speaking last week at a Somerset event titled Banter With Bonkers, McConnell said the diversity push had created an atmosphere in which comments and complaints were blown out of proportion. He added the BBC had reprimanded him at least ten times for his allegedly un-PC behaviour on the show. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We do not condone such ill-judged interpretations of what is an inclusive workplace. We are proud of all work to create an inclusive workplace.'