BBC presenter’s sexist comment ‘unacceptable'

Comments made by the freelance BBC presenter Colin Murray about Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill’s “bottom” have been cited by the Culture Secretary Maria Miller as further evidence that the broadcaster needs to do more to confront sexism.

Murray upset some athletics fans during the warm-up for the Anniversary Games on Friday evening when he suggested to the crowd of 65,000 that a perfect athlete would combine “the stamina of Mo [Farah], the speed of [Usain] Bolt, the leap of [Greg] Rutherford and the bottom of Jess Ennis”. What he said was not broadcast.

The Ennis-Hill comment comes after sexist observations made by the BBC presenter John Inverdale about Wimbledon tennis champion Marion Bartoli prompted Ms Miller to write to the BBC Director General Tony Hall to demand action. Lord Hall wrote back to defend the BBC.

Sources close to Ms Miller said she did not consider the matter closed and was urgently seeking further information from the BBC about action on more positive representation of women in sport.