No more oldies at BBC Solent

The BBC has been accused of ageism after a leaked memo from BBC Radio Solent revealed that phone-in presenters at the station should avoid putting callers on-air who sound too old.

Mia Costello, managing editor of BBC Radio Solent, told her broadcasters: 'I don't want to hear really elderly voices.'

The memo instructed presenters to: "Only talk about things that are positive and appealing to people in this age range. Only do caller round-ups about people in this age range."

It said it was important that the output sounded "lively" and "engaging" and appealed to the "young at heart" the memo continued.

A BBC spokesman hit back by saying: "We do value our older listeners and it doesn't matter if you're 45 or 105."

Do you work for the station? Have you seen the memo? Send it to us via news @ radiotoday.co.uk