Alex Scott to replace Sue Barker as host of BBC's 'Question of Sport'

2 man midfield

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Did Sue Barker have any media experience before she started presenting it? It’s hardly a pre-requisite for chairing a shit, sports themed light entertainment quiz. Gary Lineker made a similar jump from playing to presenting, and turned out fine.
 

Oldyella

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I'm no SB fan but I'd feel pretty angry if I were her.

She's being sacked for all the wrong reasons and to be replaced by a rookie with zero charisma is pretty insulting. The existing fan base wont watch but the BBC won't care, they stopped considering the public's wishes important years ago.
So what are these reasons then??

FFS, shes been in the job more than 20 years... sometimes you just need to refresh things.
 

parkthebuslads

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So what are these reasons then??

FFS, shes been in the job more than 20 years... sometimes you just need to refresh things.
She's incredibly popular with viewers and did the job well. I make no claims of knowing the reasons behind the decision but outside of lack of popularity or competence, I struggle to imagine justifiable reasons to sack someone - the same basic standard I would apply to any issue of employment.

I guess I just feel a little sorry for her!
 

Carl

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So what are these reasons then??

FFS, shes been in the job more than 20 years... sometimes you just need to refresh things.
It's because she's old and white. Haven't you been paying attention?
 

sewey89

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If Sue was being replaced by a young white man.. let’s say Jake Humphrey for arguments sake.. would there still be outrage?

The answer is no by the way..
 

esmufc07

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I wish people would get as angry about the underrepresentation of BAME men and women in our society than they do about Sue Barker being replaced by a black woman.
 

Carl

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She's incredibly popular with viewers and did the job well. I make no claims of knowing the reasons behind the decision but outside of lack of popularity or competence, I struggle to imagine justifiable reasons to sack someone - the same basic standard I would apply to any issue of employment.

I guess I just feel a little sorry for her!
QoS has been on a steady decline with viewers for years. I used to watch it religiously myself, but couldn't tell you when I last watched it.

For what it's worth, I liked Sue as a host, but the show is definitely in need of a shake up. New host and panel is the easiest way to remedy that. Hopefully the team captains they pick are decent.
 

RedTiger

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:houllier:

Why do people make such broad statements like this by brandishing a entire country as racist based off a few tweets.
Because we're human and that's what humans do. We subconsciously paint people with the same brush because it helps us not have to critically think. Its one of the reasons the world was sort of ok with collateral damage during the war on terror.
 

FlawlessThaw

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Because she is old.
The honest answer is this one, there could be strong ageist argument that the racists could play. However reality is Question of Sport probably skews a very old crowd and could do with a refresh, bit like the Saturday Supplement crowd.
 

0le

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I stopped watching this show years ago. It needed a refresh. I think Alex Scott is a good pundit and seems like a good choice to replace Sue.
 

2 man midfield

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I'm no SB fan but I'd feel pretty angry if I were her.

She's being sacked for all the wrong reasons and to be replaced by a rookie with zero charisma is pretty insulting. The existing fan base wont watch but the BBC won't care, they stopped considering the public's wishes important years ago.
It’s their quiz though, there isn’t really such a thing as unfair dismissal when it comes to this sort of thing. I mean, unless it can be proven that she was given the sack because she’s old. There’s definitely an ageism problem when it comes to the telly.

But they obviously felt a shake-up was needed, and as a host there's not much you can do. I guess it's an occupational hazard of showbusiness.
 

Pexbo

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I wish people would get as angry about the underrepresentation of BAME men and women in our society than they do about Sue Barker being replaced by a black woman.
Well said Elvis
 
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In a world where these has been clear discrimination against minorities, it’s deeply disingenuous to demand equal rights when some corrective action is taken to balance the scales, and provide inspirational role models and pathways for others to follow. This is especially true after the global kumbaya inspired by the BLM protest.

In this case, I’ve yet to see the critics present a better candidate for this role: it strikes me that Scott has every qualification and experience demanded of this role, so who is the better or more deserving candidate?
You don't balance the scales by tipping them in the other direction. If at any point you discriminate on skin colour it's a racist decision, simple as that.

Just to clarify, I believe Alex Scott to be more than deserving of this role and others. I don't presume there to be a better candidate or that positive action has been applied here. My point is exactly that despite her merits, there are those that question the motives for her hire and target the individual as a result. They wouldn't be doing so if the concept of positive action didn't exist. It's a flawed and unhelpful concept imo precisely because of cases like this.
 

sammsky1

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You don't balance the scales by tipping them in the other direction. If at any point you discriminate on skin colour it's a racist decision, simple as that.

Just to clarify, I believe Alex Scott to be more than deserving of this role and others. I don't presume there to be a better candidate or that positive action has been applied here. My point is exactly that despite her merits, there are those that question the motives for her hire and target the individual as a result. They wouldn't be doing so if the concept of positive action didn't exist. It's a flawed and unhelpful concept imo precisely because of cases like this.
we'll have to disagree on that point.

And those complaining of 'positive action' are simply asserting their entitled white supremacy agenda through disguise. It's so obvious.
 
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we'll have to disagree on that point.

And those complaining of 'positive action' are simply asserting their entitled white supremacy agenda through disguise. It's so obvious.
We'll 'disagree' because it's a simple logical fact that can't be argued. And predictably when that's the case, the left do what they do best and resort to laughably hyperbolic insults.

Get a grip.
 

sammsky1

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We'll 'disagree' because it's a simple logical fact that can't be argued.
And predictably when that's the case, the left do what they do best and resort to laughably hyperbolic insults.
Get a grip.
And yet here I am arguing :houllier:. That was just too easy.
Also, where did I insult you?
 

Bojan11

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Who cares. My bigger gripe is Claire Balding potentially replacing Sue Barker at Wimbledon, when Balding knows feck all about tennis. The Wimbledon highlights show is shit with her and McEnroe does not like her. Sort it out @esmufc07.