BBC News presenter refuses to say ‘pregnant people’ as she corrects script live on air: ‘WOMEN!’
A BBC News presenter corrected the phrase “pregnant people” to “women” live on air while reading from the teleprompter as she explained which groups were most at risk for heat-related illnesses.
Martine Croxall was seen rolling her eyes as she defiantly amended the script, saying: “London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has released research which says that nearly 600 heat-related deaths are expected in the UK.
“Malcom Mistry, who was involved in the research, says that the aged, pregnant people… women… and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions.”
People quickly took to social media to voice their support, applauding Croxall for making the bold decision to correct the wording.
Reactions on X included a post from JK Rowling, who reposted the video writing: “I have a new favourite BBC presenter.”
Seen in Journalism, a social media account that “seeks to restore accuracy and impartiality to media coverage of sex and gender,” said: “Good to see accuracy on BBC News.”
Therapist and gender-critical campaigner James Esses commented: “The BBC is so utterly enthralled to gender ideology that it took a brave newsreader to correct the teleprompter instruction to say ‘pregnant people’ by instead saying ‘women’ afterwards. Let’s hope she isn’t cancelled for her rebellion!”
Another post read: “Watch the eye roll as Martine Croxall realises ‘Malcolm’/ the script team have tried to slip in ‘pregnant people’! @BBCNews stop erasing the uniqueness of ONLY the female sex being capable of pregnancy.”
Additional tweets included: “Give Martine Croxall a pay rise #BBCNews,” “Take a bow Martine Croxall” and “Well done @MartineBBC for standing up for women & girls AND biological science.”
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Back in April, Croxall came under scrutiny after challenging a transgender activist who claimed the Supreme Court’s ruling that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex might require “clarification”.
During an interview broadcast moments after the landmark ruling, trans campaigner and ex-Labour MSP candidate Heather Herbert sparked a strong reaction from Martine Croxall after stating: “I feel like I’m under attack.”
Croxall, who clashed with Herbert throughout the segment, responded by questioning how it was an “attack”, stating it was simply a “clarification of what the word woman means”.
The BBC presenter told Herbert the ruling made it clear “sex is binary and immutable” after the trans activist argued that local authorities which have failed to protect single-sex spaces based on biological sex may now have to review their policies.
Croxall pressed further when Herbert called for more “clarification”, reminding her at one point: “The ruling is that woman means biological sex.”
Martine Croxall is a veteran BBC presenter, having worked with the corporation since 1991 and joining its BBC News team in 2001.
Earlier this year, in March, Croxall and three of her colleagues reached a settlement with the BBC following a long-running dispute that included claims of sex and age discrimination.
The case stemmed from the BBC’s announcement in July 2022 that it would be merging its domestic and international news channels.
As part of this merger, a new recruitment process was launched for five chief presenter roles.
According to court documents, the four presenters alleged that, before the process began, the channel’s senior editor had privately assured two men and two younger women that their jobs were safe.
Croxall and her colleagues argued that the subsequent application process, held in February 2023, was a “sham” – one that effectively pushed them out of their positions.
They claimed that, despite the redundancies, the work still existed, and that the new roles amounted to a demotion and a pay cut.
The group alleged discrimination based on sex and age, as well as victimisation for their union membership and for bringing forward prior equal pay claims. They also stated that they had suffered harassment as a result.
GB News has contacted the BBC for comment.