Female BBC presenters lose equal pay claim challenge

Martine Croxall and three other senior BBC journalists have failed in their bid to include equal pay as part of wider legal action against the broadcaster. However, separate claims for sex and age discrimination will go ahead, an employment tribunal ruled.

- SHAHANA YASMIN

Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh launched the claim against the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of a "sham recruitment exercise". The presenters, all between the ages of 48 and 55, claim they were snubbed for chief presenter roles following the merger of the BBC's News and World News channels. Their claim says they failed to land top anchor roles due to a recruitment exercise "rigged" in favour of certain senior presenters before applications opened. This is a claim that the broadcaster vehemently denies, and the BBC says it has conducted an internal review into the matter.

A spokesperson for the BBC said after the ruling: "We are pleased with the result and that the tribunal has accepted our position. We will not be commenting further at this stage."

A two-day preliminary hearing in central London ended on Thursday, and a three-week tribunal to hear the claims in detail will be held in March 2025. The BBC had opposed the cases being heard jointly, but Croxall, McVeigh, Giannone and Madera have been allowed to put their claims forward as a group.