BBC SPORT AT ROCK BOTTOM.

What is happening at the BBC ?

In what appears to be a mad race to achieve the mythical 'equality', the BBC seems intent on destroying itself. It's been very noticeable in recent months that an increasing number of women have appeared on our screens, almost always in inappropriate roles. In particular, much of the sports' reporting gas now been given over to women who clearly have no real knowledge or understanding of the sports on which they are attempting to report. It is also quite ridiculous to have women reporting on what are almost entirely male sports; what would be said if a gaggle of men suddenly began to present 'Woman's hour' ? It must surely be a logical necessity that presenters are matched to their subjects and not simply pushed forward because of some moronic notions of 'equality'.

Even worse has been the Beeb's coverage of the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics championships. Out has gone reporting and in has come interminable chat, much of it from a grouping of totally unnecessary women in the studio. I've never had any problem with Gabby Logan as a presenter of football programmes but her elevation to studio-lead alongside a collection of women - Paula Ratcliffe, Denise Lewis and Tanny Grey-Thompson, for the most part - has left me seething. Her apparent true belief in her abbreviated forename - 'Gabby' - and their shrill and mostly pointless waffle has turned the studio into little more than a TV version of woman's hour, and found me turning the sound off on numerous occasions as I've longed to return to some action, rather than listen to yet another rehash of some success, be it from the previous hour, day or century.

And, as if matters could get any worse, when we have returned to the track and field it's been to suffer the incessant natterings of the garrulous Brendan Foster, Steve Backley and, to a slightly lesser extent, Steve Cram. Fine athletes all, these 3 seem to believe that television audiences need to hear the same level of commentary as those on old fashioned 'steam radio'; Foster, in particular, has whittered on like an old woman, saying nothing in as many words as possible while both he and Backley have peppered their commentaries with ludicrous hyperbole. Cram has offended slightly less but the continuous stream of shouty noise coming from the television has had me tearing my hair out. 

Added to all of this, we've had the imbecilic interviews of almost every British athlete by Phil Jones, a man whose range of questions appears as limited as his pate, and cretinous attempts to jolly things along with cowbells in the studio. What Lord Reith would have made of all of this one can only guess, but we are surely nearing the end for this once great corporation.