BBC presenter refuses to say one word on air, sparks heated debate
Martine Croxall’s live broadcast choice over a single word has set off a wave of reactions online
During a live BBC News broadcast, veteran presenter Martine Croxall paused, changed one word on the teleprompter, and instantly became the center of a national debate.
It seemed like just another weekend bulletin. Croxall, 56, was reporting on research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine about who is most at risk during the UK’s soaring temperatures.
As she read from the autocue, she reached the phrase “pregnant people.” For a split second, she stopped, looked ahead, and then deliberately corrected herself:
“Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, says that the aged, pregnant people—women—and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions.”
That quick change—swapping “people” for “women”—didn’t go unnoticed. With a subtle glance, Croxall seemed to signal that the correction was intentional.
Within hours, clips of the moment were circulating online. Some praised her for “saying what many were thinking,” while others accused her of rejecting inclusive language that acknowledges trans and non-binary individuals.
One of her most high-profile supporters was author J.K. Rowling, who wrote on X: “I have a new favourite BBC presenter.”
Croxall speaks out
Amid the wave of attention, Croxall took to social media herself:
“A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to follow me today for whatever reason. It’s been quite a ride…”
She added that she knows her decision could lead to “consequences” at work and is “braced” for a conversation with BBC management.
The phrase “pregnant people” is often used in medicine and public health to be inclusive of trans men and non-binary people who can become pregnant. But for others, including Croxall, “women” remains the only acceptable word.
The tension between the two terms has become part of a wider cultural debate in the UK and beyond—about language, gender, and identity in everyday life.
Croxall has been with the BBC since 1991 and is no stranger to controversy. In a past debate with a trans activist, she argued that “sex is binary and immutable.”
Her latest on-air choice shows how even a single word, said or unsaid, can ignite discussions that stretch far beyond the news desk.
