The gender agenda: Where are the girls at C4?

Former C4 presenter Helena McAlpine. Photo / supplied

I know we're in a financial recession, but have we been smacked with a gender recession too? Is this an equal opportunity credit crunch?

It seems that way over at music television station C4, ever since celebrity presenter Helena McAlpine was made redundant in January, leaving female hosts extinct at the channel.

The popular pint-sized brunette, whose show Special Features was a fixture at C4, says she's a victim of the recession. "I was told I'd be moving and working on Jono's New Show [another locally made C4 show], but a week later, they told me they had to let me go because there wasn't enough budget at the station."

McAlpine was the last of the female presenters at C4. Shavaughn Ruakere left last year to pursue an acting career. Helena's shocking dismissal now leaves only male hosts at the country's biggest music TV channel.

"Girls apparently like watching hot-looking guys," McAlpine tried to explain.

But do they? The C4 website lists the station's presenters as Dai Henwood, Jermaine Leef, Jono Pryor, Nick D and Phil Bostwick. There is no female representation at all.

No women presenters to appeal to the 52 per cent of the population that are female. Strange, don't you think? Does this make it a discrimination depression? A sisterhood slump?

"I can't understand what direction C4 is taking at the moment," McAlpine voiced.

I can't understand either. I wanted to ask the man in charge, Ged Mahoney, the channel's programme director, but he didn't call me back. Instead, the publicity manager Jade Rook phoned. He said emphatically: "We're definitely not anti-girls."

"Helena doesn't work for us full-time any more, but she does work occasionally filling in for Jermaine when he's away," Rook said placatingly.

Special Features, C4 says, didn't achieve the desired ratings, so the show was not renewed. Helena was let go, but her co-host Bostwick has gone on to front the show Top 40. Rook said C4 does not need full-time female hosts at the moment.

"But we're always looking for new talent," he said. So, you would hire new female staff in the future? "Absolutely," he chirped. When the recession eases, no doubt.

 

Ed Hardy store opening

The popular fashion brand Ed Hardy opened its doors on Nuffield Street last week and celebrated with a party at the Union Fish Building. Attendees included Hollie Smith, Clarke Gayford, Shelton Woolright and Warriors Wade McKinnon, Lance Hohaia and Evarn Tuimavave.

Click here for launch party photos by Norrie Montgomery.

 

Carly, Ridgey's baby tragedy

My heart goes out to Carly Binding who suffered a tragic miscarriage recently. The former pop princess was expecting her first baby with partner Matthew Ridge (the third for the former league star). Binding was so happy to be pregnant she announced the news on her Facebook page in late January and released ultrasound scan photos.

She said: "Amazing eh! I sat in bed and watched it for hours. It suddenly makes the baby a perfect little person." We offer our deepest sympathy to Carly and Ridgey.


Chaos at Karaka

I wonder what Eric Watson would have made of it if he knew Rachel Deadman was frolicking in the pool at his Karaka estate recently as a guest of his former wife, Nicky, who's taken to residing there since her return to Godzone.

I wonder, because Deadman's husband, Mark Cooper, has been in a very acrimonious multi-million-dollar litigation suit with Watson and his Hanover business partner Mark Hotchin over a Californian housing project called Westchester.

Late last year it was reported the development needed $7.5-$9.3 million to complete, according to the Independent Financial Review. It's funny, we're guessing, how a little thing like a pool dip can cause tempers to flare. Watch this space

Rachel Glucina

Pictured above: Former Special Features presenters Phil Bostwick and Helena McAlpine. Photo / Norrie Montgomery