BBC boss: 'Today' needs more female presenters

New BBC director general, George Entwistle, says he is looking forward to seeing a change in the presenting line-up on 'Today' (PA)

The new BBC director general, George Entwistle, has tried to dispel claims of sexual discrimination by saying he hopes the next presenter of Today on Radio 4 would be a woman.

He made the comments yesterday, hours after being questioned on the programme by its veteran interviewer John Humphyrs, 69, who had challenged him over the lack of "grey haired" female presenters at the BBC.

After admitting that the BBC "has to be better in this regard", Mr Entwistle told a press conference he was looking forward to seeing a change in the presenting line-up on Today. "I hope that when the moment comes for the next presenter to be chosen [that] it's a woman," he said.

Only Sarah Montague out of Today's five presenters is a woman. The last two to join were Justin Webb in 2009 and Evan Davis in 2008.