Women and older people are still starkly under-represented on UK television.

A report by the Creative Diversity Network revealed that television was far younger and more male than the population at large.

It said older people were “considerably under-represented” with over-55s accounting for just 8% of entertainment presenters and 12% of lead roles in drama.

The research was a pilot study and the small sample means the results must be read with caution. But intuitively, this under-representation and the corresponding glorification of youth, is a global issue as is the persistent portrayal of older people in a negative light.