Sissons quits news bulletin with swipe at BBC ageism

Peter Sissons is to stand down as the anchorman of BBC1's Ten O'Clock News just after celebrating his 60th birthday, resurrecting claims of ageism at the BBC.

His departure will prompt a reshuffle of news personnel which is likely to see the rise of younger presenters, particularly women and staff from ethnic minorities.

Although Mr Sissons indicated his move was voluntary, he told a Sunday newspaper the BBC had a "blind spot" when it came to older members of staff. "I've been to too many leaving parties for people who've turned 50 and they're at the height of their powers and they're out. Some really gifted people who've cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to bring to that state of being so good. I think that's very sad," he said.

His co-presenter, Michael Buerk, has already announced his own retirement from the news programme to seek other challenges.

The position is in stark contrast with the United States where veteran newscasters such as Walter Cronkite and Tom Brokaw continue to broadcast despite their age.

Mr Sissons is leaving at a time when the Ten O'Clock News is achieving some of the highest audience ratings for a main evening news bulletin. Last week it attracted 7.1 million viewers and the programme is now consistently ahead of its ITV rival.

But Mr Sissons will not disappear from the news bulletins. He is to move to BBC News 24 and he will also deputise for Sir David Frost. Among the likely contenders to replace him at 10pm are Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce, both currently with the Six O'Clock News, and George Alagiah, who has been the face of BBC4's foreign-oriented news coverage since its launch in March. All three candidates have their supporters although BBC executives are thought to favour Ms Bruce as being most likely to attract women viewers, or Mr Alagiah, a former Africa correspondent.

The BBC said Mr Sissons was entitled to his views about ageism but the corporation believed it had a wealth of talent across the spectrum of age, gender and race.