Presenter Martin Hughes-Games, who dedicated 12 years of his career to the BBC’s nature series Springwatch, expressed his belief that he lost his job as a result of his former employer’s attempts to make its host team more diverse.
“I think the commissioner’s a bit grumpy with me, because I’m white, middle-class, old-aged… who wants me on their show? I’m an endangered species. Let’s hope that conservation efforts keep me going, rather than going extinct”, he told The Telegraph, adding that there are “white, middle class, old-aged presenters who are actually quite good at their jobs”.
The 63-year-old, who is now busy at home with his young son, parted with the BBC once and for all in 2018. Beginning two years prior to his layoff, he was being kept in a revised role on the show. He first announced that he had lost his job in 2016, but the BBC changed its mind after numerous fans complained.
Although the host recently starred in an ITV documentary titled Counting Tigers: A Survival Special, he admitted that it is still “very, very difficult” emotionally for him to watch his former show and old colleagues, Michaela Strachan and Chris Packham, to whom he feels very close “both professionally and emotionally”.
His confession has left the netizens split, as some felt sorry for Hughes-Games leaving the show, while others doubted his remarks.
There were those who were sceptical about the story or mocked the presenter.
Struggling with this story as white middle aged men seem to be doing quite well today in the UK! -Axed BBC presenter: 'white, middle-aged men an endangered species on TV' - The Telegraph https://t.co/BLZ1x6unWz
— Dawn Jarvis (@dawnjarvis) July 23, 2019
Absolutely true, I’m a middle-aged white man and I can’t get a job on prime-time BBC. It’s political correctness gone mad!
— Sean Slater 🏴🇪🇺 (@TheTrueScotsman) July 23, 2019
Axed BBC presenter : 'white, middle-aged men an endangered species on TV' - The Telegraph https://t.co/EFmUDjsSl6
However, many slammed the BBC for its HR-policy.
The BBC are on another planet when it comes to policy and payment and totally un-British Martin was great great loss to SpringWatch https://t.co/A4lDVNTXc0
— Colin (@chippawa3) July 24, 2019
Martin Hughes - Games is very much missed on Spring Watch, and all the others Autumn and Winter .. Disgusted with his treatment another example of the Loony Left at the BBC.
— AtlasB2B (@AtlasB2B) July 23, 2019
Many white, middle class, old-aged presenters are fantastic at their jobs. Martin Hughes-Games should never have been pushed aside and discarded simply to keep the PC brigade happy. Just stop it @BBC #nature #television https://t.co/7W2PYeqxpV
— Paul Godbold (@GodboldUK) July 23, 2019
Political Correctness and “diversity” at the @BBC - “Axed BBC presenter: 'white, middle-aged men an endangered species on TV'”. This prejudice (that’s what any system is which is not based on merit) is the road to division, not unity https://t.co/VHnefj76NF
— aspals legal pages (@aspals) July 23, 2019
At the time, I think the spin was that Martin left the BBC by mutual consent. I knew that was rubbish, and here we are. @BBCSpringwatch #wildlife #nature https://t.co/LDwtIFha2I
— Ian Senior 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@tweatirs) July 23, 2019
