I raised the issue about a year ago of why women seem
less successful in the competitive game show environment. I think it's a
fascinating subject, if you have thoughts about it KJ.
Here are the women appearances in the past five years,
since Linda Smith's death, as the last woman who was definitely a semi-regular.
This is out of 106 shows and includes shows recorded this season...
Sue Perkins 20
Jenny Eclair 12
Liza Tarbuck 10
Pam Ayres, Josie Lawrence, 8
Shappi Khorsandi, Pauline McLynn 6
Janey Godley 5
Sheila Hancock 4
Maureen Lipman, Maria McErlane, Kate
Robbins 2
Jo Caulfield, Lynn Ferguson, Helen Lederer, Josie Long,
Suki Webster 1
Of the men, apart from Paul and Clement obviously, only
Tony Hawks and Gyles Brandreth have more appearances than Sue. Graham Norton has
the same number.
I guess I think looking at that list, that women aren't
exactly demanding more shows with their great performnaces. Would you have for
example, more Pam Ayres and less Chris Neill? More Pauline McLynn and less
Julian Clary? I'd be interested if people do feel that women are getting a raw
deal. I'd like to hear more of Sheila and Maureen Lipman myself - but then I
also think Pam Ayres and Liza Tarbuck are generally not top
performers...
Interestingly too, there have been more women in the
last couple of years, though it's only a small rise. For example, we have had
six two men/two women shows this year... that never happened at all between 1985
and 2002.
Stats nerd signing off... 
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 1:55 PM
Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: Brief But Memorable - Maureen
Lipman
--- In just-a-minute@...,
Robert Torres <bobbyshaddoe3004@...> wrote:
>
> the fact that
she is such high demand is probably why she's kept her appearances on panel
shows to a minimum, but that's quite alright. I find her
contributions on the program rather entertaining, and she certainly doesn't
overstay her welcome by appearing too often, because I'm uncertain if I'd like
her on the program in a regular capacity.
>
The thought of
Maureen being a regular raises an interesting point. How many women could be
counted as even semi-regulars on JaM recently?
I don't have the data (or
the inclination) to be able to answer that question but, off the top of my head,
I reckon Sue Perkins would have been the leading female contributor, with Lisa
Tarbuck, Jenny Eclair and Shappi Khorsandi being in the running as
well.
JaM has always been male-dominated, but efforts seem to have been
made in recent years to include different voices, nations and accents in the
show - very important in radio - but less of an effort to include a more
balanced mix of male/female voices. It can't simply be that there aren't as many
women who would be good at JaM, can
it?
Cheers
kJ