IT IS good to hear that David Attenborough, aged 83, has signed up to do a new series for the BBC. So, does this mean the corporation is not ageist after all?

Who could forget the recent furore about the dumping of various presenters, allegedly because they dared to sprout wrinkles in public.

Sir David has admitted his legs don't work too well and that friends constantly advise him to get a knee replacement, but he's quoted as saying: "You cannot make yourself a 26-year-old again. You might as well cope with it the way it is going."

Good for him. (I mean it - that is not to be read in a sarcastic tone.)

But honestly, can you imagine a female octogenarian with a dodgy hip and a craggy face being allowed to front a prestigious programme like this?

Ancient fossils, it seems, are gender specific. * Thanks to everyone for their views after I questioned the wisdom of a test which could predict that we may get Alzheimer's in the future (Bm@il, January 27).

Joan Beavington, chairwoman of Age Concern Hillingdon, said she doesn't want any government agency forcing her to have a test, and if it were developed it should be for individuals to decide, particularly if they have had experience of a family member with Alzheimer's in the past.

Jean, from Eastcote, wrote: "You have really hit the nail on the head. Whatever is the point of knowing you're going to get some dreadful disease sometime in the future if nothing can be done about it?

"Apart from anything else, you could die before then - perhaps falling into the swimming pool after consuming a bucket of champagne having won the lottery!"

Anyone in favour of the test? Do email me. * FINALLY: I was interested to read that the 2008 winner of BBC Two's The Apprentice has been giving advice to youngsters in Hillingdon. I hope they don't go to Alan Sugar for tips on social skills as I found him very gruff when I met him for a short interview. I didn't do myself any favours though, because I hadn't been able to research his 'new' programme properly.

To make matters worse, the whole time I was stumbling along, Sir Alan's sidekick, Nick Hewer, stood by his boss's side, frowning menacingly at me over his glasses. Now there's an old fossil to be reckoned with.