Following criticism on social media regarding her broadcasting approach from former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming, ITV News anchor Charlene White has responded to what she described as disrespectful remarks by a colleague.
The online disagreement began when Jan Leeming took to X to share remarks about Charlene White’s presentation style on air. According to posts reported across multiple outlets, Jan wrote that she wished Charlene would stop addressing us as if we were children, describing her style as condescending. The broadcaster added that while she did not know if Charlene was an excellent journalist, she did not think she hacked it as a newsreader, contrasting her delivery with that of Mary Nightingale.
Charlene White, who has fronted ITV News since 2008 and has been a guest host on Loose Women since 2020, responded directly to the remarks on social media. She stated that it was very surprising to see a presenter she had admired as a child decide to slate her online. Charlene emphasized that in an industry where women, especially black women, have had to work incredibly hard to get ahead, that type of disrespect from a fellow female journo felt like something from a bygone era.
Following the initial backlash, Jan Leeming offered apologies while clarifying her stance on the matter. As reported in subsequent commentary, Jan stated that her critique concerned delivery rather than journalism and had nothing to do with colour. She additionally maintained that contemporary society offers BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) individuals much greater opportunities for success across all sectors, noting that her earlier comments were simply an expression of personal perspective.
Social Media Escalation and Broader Debate
The disagreement quickly escalated as Jan doubled down on her statements in subsequent posts on X. When engaging with online users, Jan maintained that a headcount in Television might reveal a disproportionate ratio of BAME people relative to their overall proportion in the population, applying a similar argument to female representation.
Jan’s career in broadcasting includes her tenure as a BBC presenter between 1969 and 1987 and a stint as a newsreader from 1980, alongside appearances on reality shows including I’m A Celeb. In recent years, she has used social media to critique modern broadcast standards, previously taking aim at the current generation of newsreaders over pronunciation, mumbled speech, and heavy accents.
Despite the criticism from her veteran peer, Charlene received substantial public support from viewers. Fans rushed to her defense online, praising her personal touch, authoritative presence, sincere delivery, and professional stature.
Public Reaction and Industry Standards
As the online debate continued to draw commentary from media observers, supporters highlighted Charlene’s long-standing contributions to journalism. Having established a presence across both news bulletins and daytime television talk shows, she remains a recognizable fixture of ITV programming.
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