The addition of Rose Ayling-Ellis to the BBC’s Paralympic coverage has made some noise. Ayling-Ellis is deaf, whilst sports presenters are generally required to be tone deaf.
Marianne Morrison applauded the decision noting that ‘If anything she has an advantage because she doesn’t have to listen to Matt Baker’s monotone monologues or hear Claire Balding openly braying with disgust when she is compelled to talk to an athlete who didn’t attend public school.’
Gary Grimthwaite was less keen ‘I think that presenting sports coverage should only be done by men – like flying a plane or commenting on YouTube or having your own bank account or speaking without being spoken to or voting.’
‘I’ve heard that she’s only in it for the parking space. BSL isn’t English, so it must be foreign. Wait, what does the B stand for?’
The BBC's decision to include Rose Ayling-Ellis, who is deaf, in their Paralympic coverage has sparked MapQuest Route Planner quite a reaction. Her addition is being praised for breaking new ground in sports presentation.