BBC News Anchor Praised By JK Rowling For Refusing To Read Teleprompter Wording During Live Broadcast

JK Rowling has publicly shown her support for a BBC News anchor who chose to change a word on her teleprompter while delivering a live news report.

During a broadcast covering heat-related fatalities across the UK, Martine Croxall was reporting on a study highlighting which groups should be especially cautious during periods of extreme heat. While reading the report, she initially said the phrase 'pregnant people', but then paused and deliberately rephrased it to say 'women' instead.

She stated: "London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has released research which says that nearly 600 heat-related deaths are expected in the UK."

"Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, said the aged, pregnant people - women- and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions."

A short clip from that moment quickly gained traction on X (formerly known as Twitter), sparking online conversations. Author JK Rowling soon chimed in, commenting on what many saw as Croxall's quiet pushback against gender-neutral phrasing.

Weighing in on the viral moment, Rowling—who has often used her social media platform to express criticism of transgender-inclusive language responded by saying: "I have a new favourite BBC presenter."

According to The Times, the term 'pregnant people' actually originated from the researchers behind the study and wasn’t a product of BBC editorial policy. The BBC does not currently enforce any strict guidelines on using gender-neutral language.

That said, their internal style guide does advise journalists to use language that is deemed suitable for the context. It also encourages the use of a person’s chosen pronouns, unless there are clear editorial reasons to do otherwise.

As the moment began to spread across social platforms, Croxall addressed it herself on X. She wrote: "A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to follow me today for whatever reason. It's been quite a ride…"

JK Rowling has been called out by Pedro Pascal Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

The choice Croxall made on air has sparked a mix of reactions. Some praised her for standing by her views, while others used the moment to speak out against people who identify as transgender or non-binary.

Earlier this year, JK Rowling also made headlines for criticizing three actors from the Harry Potter franchise. These stars had added their names to an open letter supporting transgender rights, following a high-profile ruling by the UK’s Supreme Court.

On April 16, judges ruled that the legal definition of 'woman' in a specific context must be based on biological sex. The decision stated that individuals who were not born biologically female cannot receive certain legal protections under the Equality Act—even if they’ve obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate.

However, as the BBC clarified, the Equality Act still ensures that transgender people are legally protected against discrimination based on gender identity.

Among the well-known figures who signed the open letter were Eddie Redmayne, 43, who portrayed Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts series; Katie Leung, 37, who played Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films; and Paapa Essiedu, 34, who is slated to play Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming reboot of the wizarding world saga.

On May 3 (a Saturday), Rowling responded to the letter by publishing a detailed essay on her social media accounts, where she addressed the decision of her former colleagues to support the pro-trans statement.

"In light of recent open letters from academia and the arts criticising the UK's Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights, it's possibly worth remembering that nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn't a material fact."