Retired newsreader Jan Leeming has doubled down on her social media rant towards Charlene White, after the ITV News star hit back at her ‘disrespectful’ comments.
The former BBC presenter had taken aim at Charlene in a social media post, where she branded her ‘condescending’ and said she ‘doesn’t hack it as a newsreader’.
Charlene has since hit back, saying she’s ‘surprised’ to hear Jan’s comments after ‘looking up to her as a child’.
But Jan has now doubled down on her comments, responding on X with the claim that she feels ‘it’s far easier for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people (BAME) to get ahead’.
After seeing Jan’s criticism, Charlene replied with a post on X, reading: ‘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.’
Retired newsreader Jan Leeming has doubled down on her social media rant towards Charlene White, after the ITV News star hit back at her ‘disrespectful’ commentsÂ
The former BBC newsreader doubled down on her comments after Charlene hit back, branding her words ‘disrespectful’Â
Jan then hit back: ‘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.Â
‘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.’
In a later post, Jan responded to one user referencing the Cambridge professor Jason Arday, who has recently resigned from his position after being at the centre of a plagiarism row.
She said: ‘That is an extreme case. But if one did a headcount in Television I think one might find a disproportionate ratio of BAME people relevant to their overall proportion in the population. Same goes for female representation. Only saying.’
Jan worked as a BBC presenter between 1969 and 1987 – including a stint as a newsreader from 1980.
Recently the broadcaster, who has also appeared on a string of reality shows including I’m A Celeb, has taken to criticising the new generation of presenters.Â
On Tuesday, Jan took aim at Charlene, 46, who has fronted ITV News since 2008, and been a guest host on Loose Women since 2020.
She said: ‘Wish ITV’s Charlene would stop addressing us as if we were children. She has such a condescending style.’
‘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 Mary Nightingale.’
She also stated: ‘One conveys emotion by tone of voice NOT by heavily stressing lots of words.’
In another tweet, Leeming added of Charlene’s ITV News colleague: ‘I also like Lucrezia Millarini. They both dress appropriately.’Â
When it was pointed out to Leeming that White is also a Loose Women presenter, she replied: ‘Never watched it.’
In a post on X, Jan claimed that she feels ‘it’s far easier for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people (BAME) to get ahead
Charlene had previously replied to Jan’s remarks that she was ‘condescending’ saying her words ‘feel like something from a bygone era’
On Tuesday, Jan took aim at Charlene, 46, who has fronted ITV News since 2008, and been a guest host on Loose Women since 2020
Last year Leeming took a swipe at the current generation of newsreaders in general, criticising their pronunciation, mumbled speech and heavy accents.
She wrote on X: ‘Am I just showing my age being so picky, but surely a national newsreader should be aware of correct pronunciation.
‘Just heard ‘grievious’ twice from an ITV newsreader. The word is grievous. The other is mischievious – it’s mischievous – three syllables not four.
‘We had spelling tests every week. I suppose today one doesn’t have to bother. AI and predictive texting will do it all for you.
‘You still have to speak with correct pronunciation and clarity. Have given up on mumbled speech and heavy accents and hope I’ll get the gist eventually.
”Ss’ for the presenters and newsreaders who cannot pronounce fifth and sixth – even some of my favourites. Oh, don’t forget February and jewellery.
‘If you aren’t taught and corrected, then you perpetuate the incorrect pronunciation. And the ubiquitous ‘like’ used every few words by a large proportion of the young. It is lazy.’
Leeming has also used her X account to criticise 21st-century parenting, sparking a fierce debate with one post in February.
The five-times married star, who has one son with her third husband, launched an attack against families bringing young children into upmarket restaurants.Â
Leeming told how she went to a branch of The Pig in the village of Bridge in Kent, to treat a friend to a birthday dinner.
She posted to the site: ‘Perhaps this shows my age. I took a friend as a birthday present to lunch at the Pig at Bridge – not inexpensive.
‘Lovely ambiance – slightly spoiled by a screaming child at lunch. When I paid and remonstrated, was treated as though I were the one at fault.’
She followed up by saying: ‘Don’t think a traditional pub is the place for children. Also in the evening surely young children should be in bed. Cost of baby sitting should be factored into cost of the outing.’
Leeming added: ‘When paying the receptionist, she treated me as though I was out of order.
‘She defended parents bringing children to the restaurant – there were three. If you can afford to eat there, get a babysitter!’
