Anna Ford, Selina Scott and Moira Stuart each carved out a high-profile career in what had, until then, been a bastion of male dominance.

When they succumbed to the signs of age, however, they were unceremoniously dumped or rendered so obsolete that they quit.

However, hot on the heels of the latest row over ageism at the BBC, the broadcaster has announced that it wants to address the paucity of middle-aged women reading the news by actively recruiting an older female newsreader.

The BBC wants to recruit someone aged around 50 and hopes to make an appointment within the next 12 months. It is not yet known whether the new appointment would work for the BBC News Channel or the flagship BBC 1 bulletins.

Director-general Mark Thompson asked news director Helen Boaden to find the presenter, while reports there is a recruitment deadline have been denied.

A spokesman said BBC News aimed to have “the best presenters” representing “a wide range of ages and backgrounds”.

“It’s certainly true that Mark has spoken to Helen and other directors about the need to have a broad range of presenters on air – including older women,” a BBC statement read.

“News has a pretty good story to tell with Kirsty Wark, Martha Kearney and Maxine Mawhinney all flourishing – as well as highly experienced women out in the field like Bridget Kendall, Caroline Wyatt and Orla Guerin.

“However, we’d be the first to say that it’s important not to rest on our laurels in this area and ensure we reflect the public we serve. And of course this isn’t an issue just for the BBC – other broadcasters face the same challenges.”

The launch of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, the channel’s flagship Saturday night entertainment show, has been marred by the row about the BBC’s attitude to older female faces. The decision to axe Arlene Phillips, 66, as a judge and replace her with the much younger, former winner Alesha Dixon, 30, has proved unpopular with viewers.

Many have lodged complaints and called for the reinstatement of Ms Phillips.

Last year Selina Scott spoke out about the lack of older women on television. “How many women are there on mainstream current affairs programmes who are over 50?” she asked. “Anna Ford has retired, Moira Stuart has been bumped off, yet you look around and see lots of men.”

Ms Scott, who successfully sued Channel Five for ageism, is one of many veteran female journalists who have accused the BBC of sexism, including Kate Adie and Anna Ford. The departure of Moira Stuart, who in 1981 became the first female African-Caribbean newsreader, was also criticised.

Defending the decision in April 2007, Mr Thompson told the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee that allegations in the press that Stuart – then 55 – had left the BBC because she was too old were “not true”.

He said she had lost her regular TV news slot because the traditional role of the newsreader was dying out.

While many greeted yesterday’s recruitment announcement with scepticism, Andrew Harrop, head of public policy at Age Concern and Help the Aged, welcomed the move.

“It is right that the BBC should aspire to have presenters that better reflect all sections of our society,” he said.

“Time and again the public have made it clear they want to see older people treated equally on television, with our most recent polling finding 71% of the British public are happy to see older women on screen.”

l Lord Bragg has been in talks with the BBC to front arts programmes, in the wake of his long-running series The South Bank Show being axed.

The presenter, whose ITV1 show will not continue after its current run, has previously fronted a number of radio shows for the BBC.

Old favourites: faces from the past

Who: Angela Rippon

Career: Her first broadcast was 1966 for BBC Plymouth. In 1973, she joined the BBC national service. In 1975 she became the first regular female newsreader, appearing on the Nine O’Clock News from then until 1981. She was a founding member of TV-am in 1983.

Age when reading news: At the time of her first broadcast she was 21 years old. She was aged 30 when she started reading the Nine O’clock News.

Where are they now: She was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2004 and has made only sporadic television appearances since including BBC2 auction programme Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting. She is now 64.

Who: Selina Scott

Career: After two years on the Sunday Post in Dundee, she worked as a press officer for the Isle of Bute before presenting on Grampian TV’s North Tonight. She went on to front News at Ten for ITN in 1981. In 1983, she moved to BBC Breakfast Time before briefly joining CBS in 1988. In 1997, she signed a contract with Sky but her talk show was cancelled.

Age when reading news: She was 27 years old when she entered broadcasting and 29 when she began on News at Ten.

Where are they now: Aged 58, she now lives in her native Yorkshire, on her farm, with 27 goats; from their wool she makes socks she sells on the internet.

Who: Anna Ford

Career: Ford joined Granada TV in 1974 as a researcher before becoming a reporter and later a news reader. In 1976, she joined the BBC before moving across to ITN in 1978 to become its second female newsreader. She subsequently helped launch TV-am but was dismissed after a few months. In 1986 she returned to the BBC where she was a newsreader on the Six O’Clock News and then on the lunchtime news.

Age when reading news: Ford was 30 when she joined Granada as a researcher. She was 62 when she quit the BBC.

Where are they now: Today, aged 65, she is a non-executive director for Sainsbury’s.