BBC star pulled off air for a year returns to outpouring of support

BBC News anchor Karin Giannone has returned to the broadcaster after taking legal action against her employer.

The 50-year-old previously alleged along with other senior female BBC journalists Martine Croxall, Kasia Mader and Annita McVeigh that they were kept off air for a year after they were snubbed for chief presenter roles following the merger of the BBC’s News and World News channels.

However, after a preliminary employment tribunal and being reportedly ‘forced to reapply for her job’ after they were scrapped due to cost-cutting measures, Karin made her BBC comeback.

She is the final of the four journalists involved in the legal proceedings to return to the station after taking time off to recover from a knee osteotomy operation.

On X, Martine celebrated Karin’s reinstation at the channel, writing: ‘@KarinBBC⁩ makes five! Back on air and bossing it. La classe non è acqua x.’

The avid runner’s fans also shared their support with, @BeebBensFans declaring: ‘Everything back as it should be.’

Echoing their sentiment, @saifsalim5 enthused: ‘Happy to see this lovely lady on screen again.’

@barkerhow1205 also added: ‘Good to see all of you back brightens up the day.’

Karin had previously teased she would be back on our screens on Instagram, sharing a picture of herself outside BBC HQ using a crutch.

She then posted an image of a monitor showing her in the studio, captioning it: ‘Just rehearsing for now. Back on air soon! ❤️.’

In April, Karin announced she would be off air for ‘a couple of months’ after major surgery and published a picture of herself in hospital.

She wrote on X: ‘I’m out of action for a couple of months after a knee osteotomy surgery, but very much looking forward to being back on air on @BBCNews when I am up and running again!’

In May, Karin, Martine, Kasia and Annita were seen together as they attended preliminary hearings for their discrimination claims at the Central London Employment Tribunal.

Martine, Kasia and Annita alleged discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, being a union member and wages.

Karin alleged discrimination based on age, sex and wages.

The women claimed they had been left to suffer victimisation, harassment and reputational damage.

At a preliminary hearing, the journalists, who had previously reached settlements with the broadcaster, were told they would not be able to bring a claim for equal pay.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘We are pleased with the result and that the tribunal has accepted our position.

‘We will not be commenting further at this stage.’

It is believed that the BBC’s position is that it had complied with equal pay legislation, and applied a rigorous and fair recruitment process, and that all managers conducted that process properly.

Karin started working for the BBC in January 2005. She became a permanent staff member in April 2008 and has been a chief presenter on BBC World News and the BBC News Channel.

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