New BBC director general invites Miriam O'Reilly to return to presenting role Mr Entwistle, who was named on Wednesday as Mark Thompson's successor in the top job, wrote to Ms O'Reilly inviting her to discuss future television projects with him. Ms O'Reilly, 55, lost her job on Countryfile when the programme was revamped and moved to a prime-time Sunday evening slot in 2009. The corporation apologised after she won an employment tribunal at which former BBC One controller Jay Hunt was forced to deny claims she axed four female presenters from the popular rural affairs show because she "hated women." The presenter was given a three-year contract with the BBC after winning her case but left after a year to work at a charity she set up to help women facing discrimination in the workplace. Now Mr Entwistle, who will take over as director-general in the autumn, has paved the way for her to return to television screens. Ms O'Reilly told the Independent: "I was quite surprised that George got in touch. He sent me an email in which he thanked me for my recent work on Crimewatch Roadshow and said that he would very much like to discuss working with me again once the break I decided to take was over. Mr Entwistle has asked her to contact him directly with ideas for programmes, and has told a senior BBC executive to look at a proposal for a new series which Ms O'Reilly would present and co-produce. Mr Thompson has been dogged by criticism that the BBC favours younger faces. Earlier this year he admitted that there were not enough older women in television's top programmes and presenting roles.