Equal ?

Most cases that are heard in an Employment Tribunal only get that far because of intransigence on one side or the other.

Samira Ahmed v The BBC is set down for three days in Kingsway, Central London, from Monday of next week. If it goes ahead, it's an embarrassment for Valerie Hughes D'Aeth, outgoing HR Director, and not brilliant for the two lieutenants who are taking over her job. The DG, sensitive and squeamish on such matters, won't like it either. Ms Ahmed's case has been noted by Carrie Gracie, Jane Garvey and other BBC Women on social media. The BBC brief and Group General Counsel Sarah Jones must think their position is defensible to let it get this far - but Sarah backed defending the Sir Cliff Richard case....

Samira, 51, (Wimbeldon High and St Edmund Hall, Oxford) is a trustee of the Centre for Women's Justice. Husband Brian is a digital advertising consultant.

Who will be questioned as her 'employer' ?  She presumably has a contract with News to present Newswatch (where she succeeded freelance Raymond Snoddy - how much was he on ?), and another with Radio 4 programmes to present Front Row (where she shares duties with John Wilson, presenting since 1998, and Kirsty Lang, there since 2004).