23 September 2023 , 17:15
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TV presenter Angela Scanlon claims that a BBC producer made a "derogatory" remark about her during her time working on BBC Two's Robot Wars. The Strictly Come Dancing star fronted the robot combat competition alongside comedian Dara Ó Briain from 2016 to 2018, which was a very "big gig" for her compared with her previous work. Unfortunately, not all her memories of that time are happy ones, and one phone call from a pal about a producer left her "absolutely furious".
As the "newcomer" working alongside a "massively established name" like Dara Ó Briain, the 39-year-old broadcaster says she had "wild imposter syndrome" about presenting the primetime Sunday night show, and also felt "very much out of her comfort zone in terms of the subject".
Angela admits she had 'wild imposter syndrome' before presenting Robot Wars (BBC/Mentorn Media Scotland/Alan Peebles)According to Angela, one of the producers on the show struck her as someone who had "ideas that were quite traditional", viewing her as just the "glamour". Her fears were confirmed when a friend rang her up, informing her that the producer had referred to her as "the t*** and the teeth".
Speaking on the Fashion as a Force for Good podcast, Angela recalled that the comment left her feeling “absolutely furious”. She became even angrier following a meeting with that same producer, who she claims spent more time talking about what she'd be wearing on the show than what her actual work would involve. Angela, who says she had to tell the producer that her clothing was "not important", revealed: "It felt so reductive and so presumptuous that I would have arrived with my lippie on and my legs out to entertain the lads, and that was my value. Absolutely not."
In a defiant bid to show that she didn't need to dress in a particular way in order to do her job well, Angela opted to wear boiler suits and overalls during her time on the show, which drew some criticism from trolls. In 2017, one Twitter user asked her: "Why do you wear that blue boiler suit on Robot Wars? Not very good on the eye at all. Understand the surroundings, but surely there is a better alternative." In response, Angela simply replied: "Get a job or a hobby mate. I'll wear what I want."
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The Mirror has reached out to the BBC for comment
The first live show of this season's Strictly Come Dancing will air on Saturday, September 23 on BBC One at 6.15 pm