Too glamourous? Natasha Kaplinsky. Photographer: Joel Ryan/PA
The women of Britain have been asked to suffer many indignities over the ages but none, perhaps, as heinous as that apparently demanded of Strictly Come Dancing's most newsreadingest ballroomdancer, Natasha Kaplinsky. According to "sources", after spending years building up her reputation as the "most glamorous newsreader in Britain", Kaplinsky's new employers at Five have been asking Spangles, as her BBC colleagues apparently nicknamed her, to dress down for newsreading.
The suggestion is that instead of her usual custom-made sequinned leotards and split skirts, the journalist will be required to wear off-the-peg tutus and non-bias-cut ballgowns to present the early evening news. No, hang on, that's not true. They want her to wear "smart" or "glamorous" formal wear, with the occasional denim and T-shirt combo.
Apparently appalled by the demands being meted out upon her by the people who are paying her a million pounds a year to read off the autocue, the Mail's source continues: "She's got an image which is very successful for her. It's a massive risk for her to go for this relaxed look and she's nervous about it - although there haven't been any hissy fits."
Ah, so it's NOT that much of a problem then. Well, that's excellent. Because, really, the prospect of having to get a bit matey and informal for Five news shouldn't really surprise her. Not if she's ever seen it. In fact, it's no surprise at all that Five is planning to make it even more friendly, removing desks from the news-giving area completely, making the whole process of informing people about world and domestic events more domestic and Richard and Judyised, rather than authoritative and serious. It's the way these things have been heading for years, with leaning against desks rather than sitting behind them, opening a bulletin with the words "Hi! I'm Jasmine!" with no other authority or frame of reference or mark of journalistic trust than a big white-toothed smile and a friendly first-name terms basis. In fact, it was exactly this that I was met with when catching up with some news very briefly on Saturday night. After the now conventional over-friendly "Jasmine WHO?" greeting, they then moved on to their top story. A fire on the top floor of a hotel in Nevada, US. Luckily, I always have my computer and its bookmarked link to my special TV news complaint hotline email address handy for just these situations.
Really, I think asking her to deliver the news in jeans might be the least of her problems. If Five carry on with their cuddly news policy it is only a matter of time before they require her to present the news in nothing but a vest and an old boyfriend's pair of boxer shorts. From bed. And knowing how happy that will make some people, I probably shouldn't have given them the idea.
