BBC News presenter makes triumphant return after being taken off air-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro

Martine Croxall announced her BBC News return on Twitter (Picture: BBC)

BBC News presenter Martine Croxall has returned to her position after taking legal action against the broadcaster.

The host, 55, was among a group of BBC employees who claimed they were kept off air following a BBC rebrand.

Following her employment tribunal earlier this month, Croxall announced her return on Twitter alongside a video of her presenting BBC News and saying ‘Now, where were we?’

She accompanied the clip with the message: ‘Ya’ll ready for this? Back on #BBCNews at 1100 BST.’

It is Croxall’s first appearance on the channel since March 2023 after she was taken off-air amid a cost-cutting rebrand.

Many congratulated Croxall on her return to BBC News, with Rich Jacobs posting: ‘Welcome home.’

The presenter has not been seen on the channel since March 2023 (Picture: BBC)

She is one of four presenters taking legal action against the BBC (Picture: PA/PA Wire)

Karen Brace said it was ‘good to have her back’, while Sarahlouepsom thanked her for ‘fighting for women everywhere.’

Croxall – as well as her colleagues Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh – all launched legal proceedings against the BBC alleging they were prevented from working against their will.

They claimed they lost their roles following a ‘rigged’ recruitment exercise across a two-day employment tribunal.

The BBC insists its application process was ‘rigorous and fair’, adding in court documents: ‘It is denied that [the BBC] has subjected [the presenters] to age or sex discrimination, harassment or victimisation, or has breached the sex equality clause.’

Ahead of the July 2022 mergers of the BBC’s domestic and international news channels, the presenters claim that BBC’s Channel’s manager Jess Brammer assured four other presenters their jobs were safe.

Martine and three colleagues claim they are being kept from being on air against their will (Picture: BBC)

The presenters said in court documents:that they ‘were put through a pre-determined job application process in February 2023.’

They claim they were not recruited as chief presenters and were instead offered roles as correspondents, which amounted to a demotion and a reduction in pay.

Croxall told the hearing that ‘the BBC grinds you down on pay’ with all four of the presenters filing past equal pay claims, which was dismissed at the hearing.

The BBC denied the pay claims and said at least five other applicants scored higher than the four presenters in the recruitment exercise.

Judge Sarah Goodman found that the four presenters could make claims against the BBC on the grounds of age and sex discrimination grounds, with Croxall also being able to claim discrimination on wages and being a union member.

They will have their discriminations heard in a joint tribunal set for March 17, 2025, which is expected to last three weeks.

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