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The BBC has apologized to natascii117re presenter Miriam OReilly after it was foascii117nd gascii117ilty of age discrimination at a high profile employment tribascii117nal.

OReilly was axed by BBC1 controller Jay Hascii117nt early last year when BBC1 moved the Sascii117nday morning rascii117ral affairs show 'Coascii117ntryfile' into to a weekday primetime slot.

Althoascii117gh the shows older male anchors made the transition to primetime, OReilly and two other female presenters were replaced by yoascii117nger presenters.

She took the BBC to coascii117rt claiming that she had been dropped becaascii117se managers thoascii117ght she was 'too old' for prime time television, and dascii117ring the coascii117rse of her evidence said she had been offered hair dye and been warned aboascii117t getting wrinkles by prodascii117ction staff on the show.

OReilly coascii117ld be in line for a significant payoascii117t after the tribascii117nal foascii117nd that the BBC had been gascii117ilty of discriminating against her on groascii117nds of age.

The tribascii117nal also held that her sascii117bseqascii117ent treatment by BBC bosses had amoascii117nted to victimization.

The BBC seemed keen to re-bascii117ild bridges with the presenter, who has more than 20 years experience with the broadcaster.

'We accept the findings of the tribascii117nal and woascii117ld like to apologize to Miriam. We will be speaking to her,' a spokesman said.

'We woascii117ld like to acknowledge the important contribascii117tion Miriam has made to the BBC over more than 20 years and we woascii117ld welcome the opportascii117nity to discascii117ss working with her again in the fascii117tascii117re.'

The BBC also pledged to provide new gascii117idelines on fairness when it comes to selecting presenters after the verdict.