NEWS STORY : BBC Presenter Martine Croxall Criticised for On-Air Language Change During Live Report
STORY
Martine Croxall, one of the BBC’s senior news anchors, is facing criticism after she abruptly altered the wording of a live news script to replace the term “pregnant people” with “women”, a move many say undermined editorial standards and professionalism. The term had been used in the research paper that the newsreader was quoting, which Croxall failed to point out to viewers.
The moment, broadcast during a report about vulnerable groups during a heatwave, saw Croxall visibly pause, then exclaim “women” with a pointed tone, before carrying on with the segment. The change was seized upon by commentators and public figures, with supporters praising her for challenging so-called “woke” language. However, media observers and BBC insiders are raising serious questions about why the issue wasn’t addressed before going on air and whether it’s appropriate for presenters to amend editorial scripts mid-broadcast.
Critics argue that Croxall could have easily flagged the phrasing during rehearsal or script review, rather than perform what appeared to be a personal correction in front of millions. For a journalist of her experience, this lack of preparation has been labelled unprofessional and potentially misleading, particularly in a climate where trust in impartiality is already fragile. While the BBC has confirmed that “pregnant people” is an acceptable phrase under its editorial guidelines, Croxall’s spontaneous change gave the impression of improvised commentary rather than accurate reporting. What should have been a routine segment has now drawn headlines for the wrong reasons, not for the subject matter itself, but for a presenter’s reaction to the script she was reading.
