Lucky Lisp... In broadcasting, you can have a lisp as long as you're beautiful

It used to be unheard of in broadcasting/presenting. You used to need to have a very good, clear and pleasant sounding speaking voice in order to get a job in broadcasting - both radio and television. That used to be the main requirement. Yes, you still had to look good, but you had to SOUND good, too.

But these days, as long as you're beautiful, you can have a very noticeable lisp and get hired to present a telly show. One example is Helen Skelton from BBC morning live.

She has a very strong lisp, but because she's blonde and beautiful, and thin, she got the job. So I wonder... are the BBC trying to be seen as being "equal opportunities" by hiring a woman with a lisp to present a morning show?

Slightly hypocritical, that. Given the fact she's blonde and beautiful. What if she had a lisp, and was also unattractive? Or just average looking? Or fat? Would she still have gotten the job? No, she wouldn't have. Her lisp would have been a problem.

My point? Even people with disabilities/speech impediments can get a job in radio or television if they're beautiful. How many other women went for that job who didn't have a lisp but didn't look nearly as good as Helen?

If you're ugly, and happen to have an excellent speaking voice, one that's perfect for broadcasting, you won't get the job because you don't look good enough, and being ugly isn't considered a disability like having a lisp.

Does anyone else find this outrageous? Nothing personal against Helen Skelton - she can't help it - this is directed at the people who do the hiring.

If you're beautiful but have a disability, the sky is your limit. If you're unattractive and have a disability, you've got no chance.

Every single aspect of life is unfair when you're ugly.