Anna Baddeley

Civilisation doesn’t need a woman presenter – and it doesn’t need to be remade!

I was pleased to see that June Sarpong had added her weight to Kathy Lette’s petition to get a woman to present the BBC’s remake of Civilisation. I’ve often wondered what became of her after Five Go Dating, a show I used to watch religiously, and one which – if you’re listening, Channel 4 – equally deserves to be resurrected.

Lette’s letter is in yesterday’s Times. She complains that Kenneth Clark’s original had little to say about women (true) and that because of this, a ‘female historian’ should take the reins this time. ‘A female presenter’, argues the Australian novelist, ‘would ensure that the series is not just about History but also Herstory. It’s imperative that women also have a voice in the story of our world.’

As well as Sarpong, the motley crew of signatories includes Shami Chakrabarti, Caitlin Moran, Bianca Jagger, Sandi Toksvig, and ex-Peak Practice star, Haydn Gwynne.

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