`Question Time' always welcomed women: LETTER

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I WAS interested to read your article last week about women on Question ime and wish Sue Ayling the best of luck in her search for equal numbers. I think it would have been nice if you had congratulated the original Question ime for having created the normality of women as guests on such shows.

When I started Question ime in 1979, women rarely got invited on to serious political programmes. I made it an absolute rule that we never did a programme without a woman - and we regularly had two, sometimes three and occasionally four. It seems so normal now but was a significant statement of equality then. At that time, it was much harder to find women willing to appear, or experienced enough to risk such tough exposure, as women had not made the inroads they have now into all areas of our public life. I devoted a lot of time to finding good women, many of whom now turn up on our screens all the time as well-known, established figures.

It's a matter of great satisfaction that the place of women in society has seen such advances over the past 15 years, and quite right and proper that Question ime - since its beginnings always a perfect representation of public attitudes - should reflect this.

Barbara Maxwell

Editor, Question ime 1979-90

Richmond, Surrey