Charlene White responds after ex BBC star calls her ‘condescending’ in social media spat

Lauren MorrisWed, August 12, 2026 at 8:54 AM UTC

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Jan Leeming called Charlene White’s presenting style “condescending” (PA)

Loose Women star Charlene White has hit back at former BBC broadcaster Jan Leeming’s public criticism of her presenting style, saying that the comment feels like something “from a bygone era”.

The social media spat has led to Leeming, who is best known for co-hosting BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Pebble Mill at One in the Seventies, stepping back from her X account over the “unwise” tweet.

Last week, Leeming, 84, took to social media to describe White’s newsreading style as “condescending”, writing: “Wish ITV’s Charlene would stop addressing us as if we were children.

“Don’t know whether or not she is an excellent journalist, but don’t think she hacks it as a newsreader. It may look an easy job but not all are as good as @nightingaleitv,” she added, tagging ITV Evening News host Mary Nightingale.

It took until yesterday, Tuesday (11 August), for White to respond, with the 46-year-old writing: “Very surprising to see a presenter I admired as a kid deciding to slate me on social media.

“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.”

After White’s response, Leeming seemingly doubled down on her comments before apologising, replying: “I said I didn’t know how good you are as a journalist, but I find your delivery condescending.

“It has nothing to do with colour. Actually, I believe it is far easier these days for BAME people to get ahead in all walks of life. It was only an opinion and my apologies to you.”

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Leeming’s posts prompted backlash from a number of White’s fans. “Someone take Jan’s phone away from her,” one X user replied, while another said: “She’s both a brilliant journalist, and presenter, who is definitely not condescending.”

Earlier today (12 August), Leeming admitted that she “should have kept my thoughts to myself” despite resharing various tweets in support of her original comments.

“I’ve now been on receiving end of far more nastiness and personal abuse than was warranted by making a comment on style,” she continued, before announcing that she wouldn’t be using her X account for the next few days.

“Believe me, I received far worse criticism and nastiness from, mostly female, journalists in my heyday.”

Leeming was a popular newsreader throughout the Seventies and Eighties and went on to host the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in the UK.

She competed on the 2006 series of I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, coming in sixth place, while more recently, she appeared in the BBC series The Real Marigold Hotel and a celebrity edition of First Dates.

Earlier this year, she went viral after saying on social media that her lunch at a Kent restaurant had been spoiled by screaming children and their “oblivious” parents.

Meanwhile, White continues to be a prominent newsreader and presenter on ITV, with the broadcaster serving as an anchor on both Loose Women and ITV News programmes.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”