Kirstie Allsopp: I was told ‘darling’ constitutes sexual harassment

This month an investigation – by EITF and Channel 5 – found that bullying and sexual harassment are prevalent across the TV industry, with more than half of people surveyed, experiencing sexual misconduct in the workplace.

But what constitutes sexual harassment? That’s the question Kirstie Allsopp, the Location, Location, Location presenter, has been grappling with of late. In an interview with the Times, Allsopp says she was recently sent an ‘edict’ about inappropriate behaviour. Among the ‘inappropriate behaviour’ listed was calling people ‘darling’:

‘It said that use of affectionate terms such as ‘darling’ will also constitute sexual harassment. I said, “This is ridiculous.” It’s belittling an incredibly important document about disability language, sexist language, racist language. That’s what frustrates me about this whole debate.’

Happily, Allsopp appears unperturbed by the situation. She says that while it’s ‘really, really important’ that anyone who has been in a compromising situation in the workplace where they feel uncomfortable should ‘stick their hand up’, she is quite relaxed about a male colleague making ‘a silly comment about looking up my skirt’…