Jan Leeming Criticizes Charlene White, Claims ‘It’s Far Easier for BAME People to Get Ahead’ in ITV Feud

Veteran British broadcaster Jan Leeming announced she was stepping away from social media following a severe backlash over a digital dispute with ITV News anchor Charlene White.

The Bottom Line:

• The Spark: Former BBC presenter Jan Leeming criticized ITV News anchor Charlene White on X, branding her delivery “condescending” and stating she “doesn’t hack it as a newsreader.”
• The Escalation: After White called the remarks disrespectful and reflective of a “bygone era,” Leeming doubled down with a controversial claim that it is “far easier for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people (BAME) to get ahead.”
• The Fallout: Following widespread online criticism and what she described as “vile abuse” targeting her personal life, Leeming announced she was quitting social media for a few days, admitting she “should have kept my thoughts to myself.”

The Anatomy of a Digital Clash Between Broadcasting Eras

The fiery exchange kicked off on a Tuesday when 84-year-old former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming took to X to critique current television broadcasting styles. Zeroing in on 46-year-old ITV News presenter and Loose Women guest host Charlene White, Leeming wrote, “Wish ITV’s Charlene would stop addressing us as if we were children. She has such a condescending style.” Leeming added that while she did not know whether White was an excellent journalist, she did not believe she “hacks it as a newsreader,” contrasting her approach with seasoned broadcasters like Mary Nightingale.

https://x.com/CharleneWhite/status/2087223751955894547

https://x.com/Jan_Leeming/status/2087411730276077649

White quickly responded to the public critique on X, expressing genuine astonishment. “Very surprising to see a presenter I admired as a kid deciding to slate me on social media,” White posted. “In an industry where women, especially black women, have had to work incredibly hard to get ahead, this type of disrespect from a fellow female journo feels like s’thing from a bygone era.”

Rather than letting the critique of on-screen delivery rest as a simple difference in broadcast aesthetics, the debate sharply pivoted into cultural commentary. Leeming hit back, maintaining that her critique had “nothing to do with colour” before introducing a broader and more contentious assertion regarding diversity initiatives. “Actually I believe it is far easier these days for BAME people to get ahead in all walks of life,” Leeming claimed in a subsequent post.

Amplifying Tensions Around Television Representation

As the debate gained traction across digital platforms, Leeming expanded on her views regarding modern television demographics. When engaging with social media users about industry metrics, she argued that if one were to conduct a headcount in television, “one might find a disproportionate ratio of BAME people relevant to their overall proportion in the population,” adding that the same observation applied to female representation.

This line of commentary taps into ongoing, polarized debates across the British media landscape regarding inclusivity targets, broadcasting standards, and generational shifts in newsrooms. Leeming, who worked as a BBC presenter and newsreader between 1969 and 1987 before appearing on reality formats like I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, has previously used social media to air grievances about modern news delivery. Last year, she publicly criticized current television journalists for pronunciation errors, mumbled speech, and heavy accents.

Here is the kicker: while traditional television production has shifted dramatically over the decades to embrace varied voices and regional accents, veteran figures from early broadcasting eras frequently clash with modern stylistic norms. The friction often exposes deep ideological divides over what constitutes authoritative news delivery versus accessible, contemporary presentation.

Retreating From the Digital Arena Amid Personal Abuse

By Wednesday morning, the escalating digital crossfire forced a sudden retreat. Leeming announced she was leaving social media for the next few days, conceding that she “should have kept my thoughts to myself.” She stated that she had faced a level of personal hostility that crossed professional boundaries.

“I made a comment – should have kept my thoughts to myself. I’ve now been on receiving end of far more nastiness and personal abuse than was warranted by making a comment on style,” Leeming wrote on X. “To bring my personal life into the equation was below the belt.”

Broadcaster	Career Era / Primary Network	Core Position in the Dispute
Jan Leeming	BBC (1969–1987)	Criticized modern presentation styles and argued that diversity initiatives make professional advancement easier for minority groups.
Charlene White	ITV News (2008–Present), Loose Women	Defended the hard-fought progress of women of color in media, branding Leeming’s public critique disrespectful and outdated.

Despite retreating from her account, Leeming defended her right to voice opinions on public style while acknowledging that White had “earned her spurs as a journalist.” Nevertheless, the episode leaves a lingering imprint on how legacy media figures interact publicly—and how quickly professional critiques of broadcast delivery can ignite intense cultural flashpoints online.

What are your thoughts on the evolving style of modern television newsreaders compared to legacy broadcasting? Do public critiques of presentation highlight necessary generational changes, or do they risk overshadowing broader conversations about industry representation? Let us know in the comments below.