UPDATE: An ITV spokesman says the claim for unfair dismissal (see below) was withdrawn yesterday lunchtime…
ITV regional news presenter Jemma Woodman is suing the broadcaster for unfair dismissal after being passed over for a presenting job in favour of Lisa Aziz – who has launched her own £5 million case against the broadcaster.
Woodman worked as a news anchor on the regional programme Westcountry Live for 22 months, while the regular presenter took maternity leave.
When the programme was replaced with West Country Tonight and applications were invited for a presenter, Woodman was told that she was ineligible because she was not a “permanent” presenter – the £150,000-a-year job went to Aziz.
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The Telegraph reported that the plan backfired as Aziz was suspended in June over allegations of fiddling her expenses.
She then launched a £5 million action earlier this month on the grounds of race, sex and age discrimination.
Woodman’s employment tribunal started in Plymouth yesterday.
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