Jan Leeming breaks silence after Charlene White row escalates

Jan Leeming has decided to quit social media following online abuse in response to her criticism of ITV presenter Charlene White. 

The veteran broadcaster, 84, shared her opinion on Loose Women star Charlene, 54, in posts shared on X,on Tuesday. 

She branded the Charlene condescending' and added that she 'doesn't hack it as a newsreader.

'Charlene responded to the comment, writing that she was 'surprised' to hear Jan's views after 'looking up to her as a child'.

The row then escalated as Jan replied on X with the claim that she feels 'it's far easier for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people (BAME) to get ahead'.

By Wednesday morning Jan announced she was quitting social media 'for the next few days', admitting she 'should have kept my thoughts to myself'.

'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,' she wrote on X. 'To bring my personal life into the equation was below the belt.

Won’t be using account for next few days. Was unwise to make a comment about style but don’t believe it warranted vile abuse. Believe me I received far worse criticism and nastiness from, mostly female, journalists in my heyday.' 

Jan worked as a BBC presenter between 1969 and 1987, including a stint as a newsreader from 1980.

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.