Martine Croxall back on BBC News after discrimination claims

Martine Croxall has returned to BBC News following her launching a tribunal claim against her employers.

The presenter, 55, has previously alleged along with other senior female BBC journalists Kasia Madera, Annita McVeigh and Karin Giannone that they were kept off air for a year after they were snubbed for chief presenter roles following the merger of the BBC’s News and World News channels.

Announcing her return, Croxall wrote on X, formerly Twitter, saying: “Ya’ll ready for this? Back on #BBCNews at 1100 BST.”

The presenter, who has worked for the BBC since October 1991 and been a chief presenter with the BBC News Channel and BBC World News since 2001, shared the message along with a video of her in the studio saying: “Now, where were we?”

Croxall, who has also appeared on BBC One network news bulletins, previously spent nearly two weeks off air in 2022 over claims she had showed bias when Boris Johnson pulled out of the Conservative leadership contest.

She said she was “gleeful” while presenting an edition of the former The Papers programme, and while responding to a guest’s joke aimed at the former Prime Minister, she said: “I shouldn’t probably (laugh). I’m probably breaking some terrible due impartiality rule by giggling.”

Croxall was congratulated by Madera, who returned earlier this month, Giannone and McVeigh, who came back to work on March 18.

“Great to see my friend and colleague @MartineBBC back on @BBCNews,” Madera wrote.

Giannone called it a “treat” and wrote: “As soon as the leg mends, I’ll be there too.”

Earlier this month, the journalists were seen together as they attended preliminary hearings for their discrimination claims at the Central London Employment Tribunal.

Croxall, McVeigh and Madera allege discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, being a union member and wages.

Giannone alleges discrimination based on age, sex and wages.

The women claim they have been left to suffer victimisation, harassment and reputational damage.

At a preliminary hearing, the journalists, who had previously reached settlements with the broadcaster, were told they would not be able to bring a claim for equal pay.

A BBC spokesman said: “We are pleased with the result and that the tribunal has accepted our position.

“We will not be commenting further at this stage.”

It is believed that the BBC’s position is that it had complied with equal pay legislation, and applied a rigorous and fair recruitment process, and that all managers conducted that process properly.

The women were given the go-ahead to have their cases heard jointly.