A BBC news presenter found herself in a bit of a spotlight recently. Martine Croxall, who has been with the network for over three decades, reacted—let’s just say—quite visibly while reading from the teleprompter.
During a Saturday broadcast, she was discussing groups most at risk for heat-related illnesses when she stumbled upon the phrase “pregnant people.” It definitely caught her off guard. Eyebrow raised, she quickly opted to change it to “women” on air.
As she continued, Croxall read remarks from a new study issued by London’s Faculty of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The teleprompter had emphasized the need for “pregnant people” to take precautions during the UK’s heat wave. Unphased, Croxall made her modification, which led to a noticeable eye roll.
She went on to emphasize, “Malcolm Mistry, involved in the research, says that older pregnant people—women!—and those with existing health conditions should be cautious.” This wasn’t just a slip; she had altered the script to reflect her viewpoint, and it all unraveled quite publicly.
The moment quickly spread across social media, as viewers rallied behind Croxall’s decision to address the language used. Within hours, tweets and posts flooded in, celebrating her boldness.
Among her supporters, the well-known author JK Rowling expressed her enthusiasm, mentioning on social media that she had found a new favorite presenter at the BBC.
Croxall eventually took to social media herself, thanking her followers for their support and reflecting on the unexpected attention she’d received. It was, as she described it, “a pretty good ride,” accompanied by an image from the broadcast.
Engaging with well-wishers throughout the day, she remained steadfast about her choice and even clarified that the clip correcting “pregnant people” to “women” was genuine—no AI involved.
Croxall’s history with the BBC is extensive. She started with the network in 1991 and broke into the news team a decade later, contributing to various programs including World News Today and BBC News at One.
