Former BBC Points West presenter Susan Osman is moving from Bristol to China to escape a "culture of ageism" in broadcasting in this country that she says has made it difficult for her to get full-time work.

Ms Osman has worked in broadcasting for 28 years and currently freelances as a presenter on the BBC News Channel and at BBC World. Before that she was a presenter on BBC1 Points West for 14 years, and hosted a show at BBC Radio Bristol for eight years.

However, she believes her age – she is now 51 – is hindering her attempts to get suitable work as a presenter in this country, citing one incident when she claims that a BBC manager asked her if she was menopausal.

Ms Osman has now accepted an offer to host the prime-time breakfast show on China Radio International (CRI 91.5FM) on a one-year contract, and is moving to Beijing.

The BBC last night denied it was guilty of ageism in choosing its presenters.

But Ms Osman said: "There seems to be a culture of ageism in broadcasting in this country, and it particularly affects women.

"In recent months I've gone for five auditions and interviews for radio and television presenting jobs at the BBC and in the independent sector. Each time I got told how marvellous I was and that they'd call me back, and in some cases we even discussed schedules.

"Mysteriously, each time I never heard anything, which was not only rude but has left me wondering if it's because of my age."

Ms Osman – who has also worked as a newscaster and reporter at ITN News and Thames Television, as well as presenting on HTV West and on the European Business Today programme on BSkyB – said that by contrast her age had been an advantage when she applied for a job with the new English language station China Radio International.

She said: "In China they revere experience. The older you are the better. I got the impression that my future boss actually wanted me to be older when I finally told him my age during the interview.

"I'd been very reluctant to say how old I was because of my experiences over here.

"Far from being put off, he was positively delighted and also wants me to do training for the younger journalists."

Ms Osman's concerns about ageism follow recent controversy over the removal of 66-year-old Arlene Philips as a judge from the BBC television show Strictly Come Dancing, and six-figure payout to Selina Scott by Channel Five in settlement of an age discrimination claim.

Ms Osman was encouraged to look for work in China by her son Matthew, 20, an Oxford University student who spent time there last year.

Ms Osman said she believed women in broadcasting faced ageism when they reached their 40s.

She said: "When I was working at BBC Bristol as a presenter, I was actually asked by one of the managers there if I was menopausal.

"I think this is indicative of the attitude towards women in broadcasting as they get older.

"I've had so many female colleagues who have dropped out in their early forties, which is a shame because an older woman can bring wisdom and empathy.

"There don't seem to be many places for older women in broadcasting in this country."

While she is living in Beijing for a year, the Rainbow's End Foundation charity set up by Ms Osman – who is an ordained interfaith minister – will continue to be run as usual.

"Ironically, when I started working in television my biggest concern was being taken seriously as I was always told I was too glamorous and too young looking. What a lot of people don't realise is that it's even harder for women in broadcasting to be taken seriously as they get older," she added.

Responding to Ms Osman's claims, a BBC spokesman said: "Broadcasting, especially presenting, is an extremely competitive industry and the nature of it is such that many broadcasters are freelance artists on contracts of specific durations. Ageism has nothing to do with it."