http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8360092.stm

While I obviously have no problem with someone who's disfigured presenting on TV (or anything else for that matter), it does look like a stunt after all this time as far as the mainstream is concerned... However, if it lead to progress in general I'd be happy enough

On a similar note, does anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that almost every other show/ad now seems to have a token black guy, or some other 'minority' person? Maybe the question is would we feel guilty if they didn't?

And in case anyone gets excited, I can't think of a single instance where the people hired haven't been good at their job, I'm just wondering was it that merit they were hired on... I really hate the thought of a producer or someone thinking 'Yeah, we'd better get someone of colour in'

[LIFTED] off!
You wanna break down prejudice? Give the guy a permanent job, not just one for a week.
[LIFTED].

Mark

The thing is, they are doing it just to see what happens, not because the guy applied for the job and just happens to be disfigured. Following their logic, they could 'see what happens' by giving the job to someone who has half their face missing because they tried to shoot themselves with a shotgun (there are a few people about like this, who survived attempted suicide etc), just to 'see what happens'.

I know. No faith in their convictions. Spineless bunch of tossers.

Mark

What if he's actually rubbish at presenting?

Then the channel should get someone who isn't.
Is the channel going to claim that it's the disfigurement that makes them rubbish at presenting?
I bet they don't do that.

Mark

The gadget show certainly proves that, the black guy obviously knows f u c k all about anything except trainers, however the two white guys are seriously creepy and make me want to physically vomit, the token "babe" is just another smug fame whore (and she knows it). It's like watching a bunch of pikeys.

In the instance of the disfigured news reader it will be an improvement over Kaplinsky both physically and in terms of ability.

Can't really comment on The Gadget Show (though the guy you're talking about did spring to mind in my OP), as I find the format of the show so annoying I never watch it the whole way through, I basically watch the intro to see if there's gonna be:

Any interesting reviews or look at or emerging technology.

Suzi wearing/not wearing a sexy outfit, often during a completely unnecessary action bit

And I don't watch Five News, though Kerplunk has all the warmth of a fridge from what I've seen of her...

I don't watch it religiously, I do like to see what Suzi's up to, there's something not quite right about her and I it makes me feel dirty, in fact the whole show does, it's like a fetishistic Tomorrows World on acid and totally devoid of any facts or useful information, in fact it's pretty much just an advert.

Grrrrr! He shouldn't be reading the news because he has a facial disfigurement, he should be reading it because he can read it well. Stupid Five. Anyone should get any job because they're good at doing what are the key aspects of it, not to fill statistics or act as a test-monkey. It shouldn't be an issue at all. Anyone who can convey the meaning of the stories should be offered the job. Hrmph! (Gaaaargh - unstructured rant - sorry)

Good grief, what did the Gadget Show do to everybody?
Haven't seen the Gadget Show for some time due to not getting Five or Digital through the rubbish aerial on my house but I did like it when I could watch it.
Ortis (the black guy) was only added last series I think when Dallas jumped ship to the BBC (Bang Goes the Theory). Before being on the show Ortis did some of their web TV content and then got transferred tot he show IIRC so they basically promoted someone internally.
They also had Gail Porter on to cover for Suzi Perry when she was off sick (ectopic pregnancy IIRC). It was the first thing I'd seen her doing on TV for absolutely ages since she had alopecia. While it's not a disfigurement I don't see any other people on TV with it.

I agree that the disfigured guy should get the job based on his skills as a presenter but equally I don't see any of the other channels doing this so well done Five, even if it is a bit of a stunt. Hopefully this will encourage broadcasters to broaden their presenting horizons a bit.

I thought they got rid of dallas because he was s h i t and had a stupid name.

Basically the 'wacky' challenges have pretty much taken over, and they don't even try to disguise the fact that Suzy is there primarily to boost the ratings - there's even a running shot through her legs at the start of every show