Yahoo News Leicestershire's Martine Croxall makes BBC return after year off air amid dispute
Leicestershire’s Martine Croxall has returned to screens for the first time in over a year. The much-loved BBC presenter’s high-profile absence has even seen her take the corporation to an employment tribunal.
Martine, who was born and grew up in Stoke Golding, near Hinckley, made her return to BBC screens today (Sunday, May 26) as she helmed the 11am hour on the BBC News Channel. It is her first appearance on the channel since March last year after she was taken off-air amid a cost-cutting rebrand of the network.
News of Martine’s return was confirmed by the Leicestershire presenter herself just minutes before she appeared on screens. A video on X, formerly known as Twitter, saw her once again behind the famed BBC News desk and ask the simple question: “Now, where were we?”
The news has been met with great acclaim from fans of the presenter who was among the most popular on the BBC News Channel prior to its rebrand. One said it was the “best news ever”, while a second labelled it “great news”.
Martine was among a number of female BBC presenters kept off-screens since March 2023 following the rebrand which was a merger of the old BBC News Channel and BBC World News. She and three colleagues - Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh - all launched legal proceedings against the corporation, alleging they were prevented from working against their will.
An employment tribunal held earlier this month heard how the presenters allege they were denied new Chief Presenter roles on the rebranded channel in favour of junior and inexperienced colleagues. Martine and the others also claimed they were not being paid equally - but this was dismissed at the hearing.
However, Judge Sarah Goodman found that the four presenters could make claims against the BBC on age and sex discrimination grounds. In Martine’s case, the Leicestershire presenter can also claim discrimination on being a union member as well as on wages.
All four will have their discrimination cases heard jointly at a tribunal set for Monday, March 17 next year. It is expected to last three weeks.
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