Sky News host Sarah-Jane Mee reveals she suffered sleepless nights after sexism in the workplace as she replaces Eamonn Holmes on Sunrise
Sky News Sunrise host says working in sport can be 'extremely intimidating'
SKY News Sunrise host Sarah-Jane Mee says she suffered sexism while working in TV sport.
The 38-year-old anchor who takes over from Eamonn Holmes today, said: “Working in sport can be extremely intimidating,” she told Hello! magazine, adding: “For a while I had sleepless nights about it.
“Unfortunately there was and can still be a lot of sexism and patronising behaviour, especially from the old boys in sport.
“They would make sexist comments and say, ‘It’s just banter’. But if I’m not laughing, it’s not funny — eventually they stopped.”
She added: “As soon as the men got to know me and realised I knew my stuff, I earned some respect.
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“But I’d still turn up in high heels with a blow-dry. I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to dress in trainers — I was protecting a professional image.”
In 2011 Sky Sports became the centre of a sexism row after Richard Keys and fellow football pundit Andy Gray were caught making sexist off-air comments about assistant referee Sian Massey.
The 38-year-old’s career began at Sky as a runner for Sky Sports before moving to ITV in 2002 to become a sports reporter in the Midlands.