John Inverdale's Marion Bartoli comments 'wrong', says BBC news chief Marion Bartoli at Wimbledon 2013: BBC presenter John Inverdale has issued a partial apology for his comments about the French player. Photograph: Xinhua/Landov/Barcroft Media The incoming BBC head of news and current affairs has said that John Inverdale's comments about Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli's personal appearance were wrong. James Harding said Inverdale had to take ownership of what he said and apologise to the tennis player. The BBC has received almost 700 complaints in the hours after the veteran Inverdale said Bartoli "was never going to be a looker" on Radio 5 Live ahead of the game. Harding was asked at a Women in Journalism event at London's South Bank Centre on Monday whether this "casual sexism" warranted the sack just as Sky Sports presenter Andy Gray was fired over a sexism row in 2011. Harding hesitated and said the punishment for wrongdoing had to be proportionate. I think he said the wrong thing ... You have got to own your mistakes and apologise for them," said Harding. I do think it's important that an apology too is an important thing and if you are talking about sacking someone, [you have to ask] is it proportionate. As a licence fee payer I think it was wrong. Inverdale has apologised to Bartoli "if" any offence was caused, but this has been seized on as evidence that the sports presenter is not aware that his remark can only be interpreted as offensive. While chatting on air about Bartoli's technique as a player, Inverdale said: "I just wonder if her dad, because he has obviously been the most influential person in her life, did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14 maybe, 'listen, you are never going to be, you know, a looker. 'You are never going to be somebody like a Sharapova, you're never going to be 5 feet 11, you're never going to be somebody with long legs, so you have to compensate for that. 'You are going to have to be the most dogged, determined fighter that anyone has ever seen on the tennis court if you are going to make it,' and she kind of is. Bartoli has dismissed Inverdale's comments as irrelevant to her. Bartoli said later: "It doesn't matter, honestly. I am not blonde, yes. That is a fact. Have I dreamt about having a model contract? I'm sorry. But have I dreamed about winning Wimbledon? Absolutely, yes. And to share this moment with my dad was absolutely amazing and I am so proud of it. I am sure I will be able to watch the DVD of the match and look at the picture of me when I am holding it [the trophy]. That is the most important thing to me. The BBC has also apologised, describing the remark as "insensitive." Harding was also asked at the WIJ event whether he felt there was a gender imbalance in the BBC's news presenting team with a disproportionate number of older men and lack of older women. He agreed there was such an imbalance, and vowed to take action when he starts in his role later this year. He was also asked about his reported £1.3m payoff from News International (now News UK) when he resigned as editor of the Times in December. He paused for about 30 seconds before answering "no" and swiftly moved on to the next question.