O'Reilly Round Two

Ten days ago, I wondered why on earth we had a second "apology to older women" from BBC DG Mark Thompson - and why this opinion BBC was given to the Daily Mail. Now all is clearer.

Miriam O'Reilly, whose exit as a Countryfile reporter brought the first "apology to older women" a year ago, has grievances about her second contract with Auntie. She apparently gave notice that she would not complete the final two years of her current deal to the BBC's legal department in December, and, in the past couple of weeks, to the DG in person.

This is Miriam's summary, of how "Round Two" of her engagement with the BBC went. (The full Mail version is here).

"After winning my case, I went back to work last April on a three-year contract. I gave my all in making it a success. Crimewatch Roadshow, which I co-presented, was a ratings winner (remember, ratings are the measure of success). And a short series I did for the Heart And Soul programme on the World Service received an ‘impressive’ review. Then, I found myself being paid to sit at home. 


A senior executive remembered to tell the World Service I was contracted to work for them, but ‘forgot’ to pass the message on to mainstream Radio  4. As a result, the programmes and documentaries that I was contracted to do were allotted to other people. I had already spent most of my time during that nine months at home. I now faced another four months sitting around doing nothing. 


The executive who ‘forgot’ was the same one who had written to me on my return telling me (the injured party) that I had to ‘rebuild trust’ with the BBC. It made me strongly question the BBC’s very public acceptance of the tribunal ruling. Life was made very difficult for me at times on my return to the BBC. I started to feel so undermined, ridiculed and sidelined (and I am a strong woman) that if I didn’t step back and let some of the boys try to come to terms with the fact that I had won my case, my health would permanently suffer". 


Miriam's new campaigning group has been set up with the solicitor who won her first case, Camilla Palmer, and Miriam's Mail piece has pretty clear indicators that she has grounds for a second go in court - "paid to sit at home" and "my health would permanently suffer" are clues. If Miriam's tale is right, Thommo will be pretty angry with the "senior executive" for not ensuring that "Round Two with O'Reilly" passed without these further difficulties.