Wogan slams newsreaders

Terry Wogan said newsreaders have "the easiest job" goingÂ…

11:56 03 September 2009

Broadcasting legend Terry Wogan has slammed "self-important" newsreaders, claiming that they have "the easiest job in the media".

Wogan quipped "it's a piece of cake" and that the hardest part of the job is getting dressed and putting on makeup. The rest is handled by the scriptwriters.

The presenter, who used to be a newsreader earlier in his esteemed career, admits women like BBC1's Fiona Bruce do have a tougher time than the men - because they have to worry about lipstick.

Wogan continued: "News reading is not something to get self-important or petulant about.

"Get your good suit and tie on, a quick dab in make-up (in Fiona Bruce's case, the lippy is going to take a tad longer), make yourself comfy and here comes the six o'clock news, all written nicely and clearly before your very eyes.

"Read it clearly and distinctly, ask the reporter the questions you have written down in front of you and there!

"Before you start with the, 'Fair play old boy, there's more to it than that!', I was a radio and TV newsreader and there isn't."

Wogan maintains a regular audience of around 8 million for his Radio 2 breakfast show. The quotations come from his new book 'Where Was I?! The World According To Terry Wogan', out next week.

Wogan's rant was a response to hearing about a newsreader who quit a studio because his co-host did not have a current affairs background.

Last year, ITV News star journalist Mark Austin claimed many of the news presenters were just recruited for their looks. He stated: "I do think there are a number of pretty young women and handsome young men without a solid journalistic background reading the news nowadays."