WELL DONE, BEEB!

Auntie flies in face of discrimination SAYS…

TOP PRESENTER: Lucy Martin doing what she’s good at WHEN the BBC advertised for a disabled weather presenter to join a training scheme, the Corporation was accused of “political correctness gone mad”.

But the initiative threw up a star, in the form of Lucy Martin – who now presents BBC regional weather reports.

The brunette, who is missing the lower part of her right arm, is a regular face on BBC.

In Within Reach, the official magazine of the Association for Children With Upper Limb Deficiency, Lucy said: “I don’t really see myself as disabled. I can do almost everything – and only ask for help when I have to.

“I was warned that hurtful RESPECTED: Cerrie Burnell things can sometimes be said via social media, but reactions so far have been great.

“I hope we reach a stage where firstly I am known for being good at what I do and secondly for having one arm.”

Lucy is not the BBC’s only one- armed presenter.

Last year CBeebies host Cerrie Burnell, 37, shrugged off complaints that her having one arm “scared children”.

She said: “I wasn’t surprised by the complaints.

“I didn’t feel sad or worried, I felt very calm. And I got to give my version. They’ve done me a huge favour.” THE BBC comes in for stick that it’s ‘obsessed’ with political correctness and promoting minorities.

There was a storm last year, and accusations of ‘positive discrimination’ when the Corporation advertised for a disabled weather presenter.

But without this, we may not have been introduced to Lucy Martin.

Now a regular on screen, Lucy is a weather presenter who just happens to have one arm – rather than a one-armed weather presenter.

This is progress and the BBC need to be applauded for promoting talent.