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In April 2007 it was announced that Stuart would be leaving Sunday AM, resulting in the loss of a regular slot on broadcast TV.

This prompted an angry backlash from press and colleagues who accused the BBC of ageism and sexism.

The BBC initially declined to comment on why she was no longer being used, but rumours circulated within the BBC and commercial newsrooms that Stuart had been removed because she was considered " too old " at 57, although Anna Ford had continued anchoring the BBC One O ' Clock News until her retirement at 62.

This was denied by Director-General of the BBC Mark Thompson when he was questioned by a House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee.

Thompson stated: " BBC News, News 24, the radio networks, have changed over the years and the traditional role of the newsreader, as opposed to a correspondent or presenter, has virtually died out over the services .... We tend to use journalists across BBC news programmes ... to read the news headlines.