Everyday Ageism: FEMAIL columnist CHRISTA D’SOUZA, says 60-plussers need representation

• Christa D’Souza said she will miss Jenni Murray being on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour
• She hopes the presenter isn’t leaving because she’s turning 70 later this year 
• The British columnist argues those over 60 also need representation  

It’s the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail’s had enough. It’s time we called out those day-to-day moments when we’re patronised for no longer being young…

Farewell then, to Jenni Murray, host of Woman’s Hour on Radio 4 for the past 33 years. Farewell, too, to her co-presenter Jane Garvey.

What a passing of an era.

Christa D’Souza (pictured) argues there needs to be representation of those over age 60, as Jenni Murray leaves Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour

I shall miss Jenni’s dulcet tones terribly, as will many others, I’m sure — that’s a rare skill she has there, to mollify and probe at the same time.

Her reason for leaving? A dignified ‘it was time to move on’, which is all well and good but I do hope it didn’t have anything to do with her turning 70 this year (Jane Garvey is 56). I have my suspicions.

It was a brilliant decision of Radio 4’s to hire Emma Barnett, the 5 Live and Newsnight presenter who is set to take Jenni’s place. Emma is a brave, fearsome and — most importantly — likeable journalist. She is also 35.

It will be interesting to see who the co-presenter will be. Will she, like Emma, be in her 30s? I understand that Woman’s Hour needs to ‘revitalise’ and not veer too far into ‘knitting pattern-and- incontinence pad’ territory. But it needs to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

We 60-plussers need representation too.

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