Half of expert voices on BBC will be female by next year

THE BBC is to insist half of the expert voices on news and current affairs programmes will be women by next year.

The broadcaster has set a 50:50 gender quota after it came under pressure over its treatment of female staff. By April 2019, the corporation aims to have an equal number of male and female expert contributors, as it increases the number of women on air.

Lord Hall of Birkenhead, the director-general, said the target would “help transform the range of expert voices across the BBC”. Earlier this year, the BBC faced accusations of being a “good old boys’ network” after allegations of its treatment of female broadcasters.

The gender quota is now aimed at increasing the opportunities for women on air. It follows a series of measures including the creation of a “women’s expert database” to make it easier to book female contributors, and more than 100 people have so far taken part in the “expert women” media training scheme.

The quota relates only to contributing “experts”, brought in to give insight and opinion on topical stories. It does not include “relevant ministers, officials, or organisational representatives”, meaning those involved in stories remain accountable regardless of gender.

It also rules out programmes “which already have a focus on gender”, such as Woman’s Hour.

Since last year, selected programmes have trialled a 50:50 project, with one, Outside Source, reaching the target within three months.

The BBC said the success of the project had led other teams to follow suit. The One Show, News at Six and News at Ten are the latest of more than 80 programmes to sign up.

The proportion of female contributors and reporters on The Andrew Marr Show increased from 42 per cent to 52per cent and Radio 4’s File on 4 rose more than 10per cent.

Lord Hall said: “This is a fantastic project that is already driving change. The results from programmes that have taken it up have been remarkable.”

Fran Unsworth, director of news, added: “We are starting to see a real transformation, but we want to go further and faster.”