Who knows? But we do know that Jo Whiley has been incredibly fortunate. Never the most brilliant of broadcasters, she is nonetheless still enjoying a long and lucrative career on national radio. Cynics suggest that it’s simply because the BBC are desperate to have more female voices on air. The same sly whispers are now also being directed at Culture Secretary Maria Miller, who’s still in her job despite being caught fiddling her expenses. It’s alleged that the government won’t sack her because they’re desperate for more women in senior positions. But no, surely we’ve moved on from this sort of sixth-form sexism – patronising women with preferential treatment just because of their gender. It’s 2014, we must have done. So let’s salute one of countless British women whose success isn’t down to gender, it’s solely down to talent.
