Ageism in the BBC – now that would be grim, eh Mr Moyles?

A BBC pox on all "isms", on racism, sexism, ageism … Except at Radio 1 where Chris Moyles, 38, moves on from his breakfast show in favour of Nick "Grimmy" Grimshaw, 27. The BBC Trust wants the channel's average listener age reduced from 32 to 15-29, explains the station's 40-something controller. Meanwhile, over on BBC 1, average audience age 50, a precisely different imperative applies, and our screens are suddenly full of wrinkly celebrities consorting with 80-plus viewers. Those of us who thought ageism was stereotyping by date of birth need only reach for our remotes and tacit confirmation. Contrast and compare See the mighty advertising power of the internet … Or rather, wonder at the a big poster campaign across the land, which grandly announces that a new moustachioed-tenor TV campaign selling gocompare.com is on the point of launch. Posters plugging TV ads plugging a website service? And three bills, in three mediums, for the ad agencies. Digital thinking is one thing; lateral thinking something else again.