Beeb vows to tackle class problem

THE BBC has promised to do more to boost social mobility in its workforce after coming under fire for failing to employ enough working-class presenters.

As radio and education director James Purnell yesterday unveiled the Corporation’s plan to improve literacy, the Oxford graduate was asked if the BBC should not get ‘its own house in order’ before trying to address social inequality in Britain.

Asked about the BBC’s diversity problem, privately educated Mr Purnell, a former Labour minister, said: ‘We are experimenting with removing qualifications from CVs when they come through. Do we want to do more? Absolutely. Are we committed to doing as much as we can? Absolutely.’

It comes after BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern criticised class differences at the Corporation.

Miss McGovern, who is from Middlesbrough, said ‘posh women... are paid a hell of a lot more than me’, adding: ‘Throughout my career I’ve had to argue about [pay]. It’s not as simple as a gender issue, it’s partly down to class.’

The BBC said 80 per cent of its workforce had attended state schools.