Sandi: TV chiefs fear women hosting ‘intelligent’ shows
SANDI Toksvig has called out TV bosses for not hiring more women in leading host roles.
The QI presenter, 62, questioned whether they even saw women as being capable of hosting “intelligent” shows.
When Sandi replaced Stephen Fry on the quiz programme, it was seen as controversial by some at the time.
Speaking in the US, Sandi said: “Hopefully it’s not so scary when women are hosting things [here]. Certainly in Britain still it is very unusual for a woman to be allowed to be in charge of anything on television.
“We still don’t have a chat show hosted by a woman and we still struggle that one might host something of intelligence. I don’t know why.”
She added: “I took over hosting [QI] five years ago and I’d like to think maybe women feel it’s OK... I did take over from Stephen Fry. And everybody said to me, how are you going to fill his shoes? And I said, I don’t plan on wearing his shoes. I’m not really worried about it.” Sandi also hinted she quit Bake Off this year because she was bored of it. She told CBC radio: “I did three years and then I thought I’m not sure I could stand and watch frosting any longer.
“I’m 62, darling, I can’t be watching cake rise for the rest of my life. I just can’t.
“I have so many other things that I’m interested in. I’m writing a book, I have another book due, I’ve just finished writing a TV drama. So I think sometimes you should decide that that period of your life is over and to move on. That’s what keeps life interesting.”