Gender equality | BBC hired woman presenter because of 'pressure from the top'

Former BBC Radio 2 DJ Simon Mayo has claimed the BBC hired Jo Whiley as his co-host because of pressure to have more women in daytime shows.

Speaking to the Radio Times, Mayo said that he was told would be getting a co-presenter on his 5pm-7pm slot by his agent. He said that he specifically asked for it be Whiley, as the pair already knew each other.

“I was concerned that they'd pluck a co-presenter out of a bag somewhere, and I said it needed to be Jo,” he explained. “I've known her for a long time, and our families had been on holiday together.”

However, he added that he did not think she had been chosen because of a genuine need for a co-presenter, but to boost the number of women featuring on the radio station.