Five senior BBC presenters are taking legal action against the corporation over sex and age discrimination after they were taken off air last year, it has been reported.

Today it was disclosed that Martine Croxall, 55, who has been working at the Beeb for more than three decades, was taking her employer to the London Central tribunal court on May 1.

But now it has been revealed that Croxall’s case will be made alongside four of her former colleagues during the two-day employment tribunal.

Multiple sources told US news agency Deadline that Karin Giannone, 50, Geeta Guru-Murthy, 56, Kasia Madera, 48, and Annita McVeigh, 46, are also involved in the bombshell case.

All five women, who were pictured together enjoying a drink in a pub on Christmas Eve, were left in limbo last year when the BBC’s News and World News channels merged.

Each of the quintet declined voluntary redundancies and for a time were left without job titles, while their long-serving colleagues such as Joanna Gosling decided to leave the business. 

Despite being off air, however, they still continued to receive their full pay package as the broadcaster sought to find them a new role. 

Since then, Guru-Murthy and McVegh have returned as chief presenters on the channel after vacancies were made available, with Croxall also telling fans she will be making a return to screen soon.

It was first revealed that Ms Croxall (pictured) would be taking her employer to court 

Annita McVeigh is said to be one of the other female presenters taking legal action against the BBC 

Kasia Madera is also believed to be one of the women taking legal action

The women, who have more than 100 years experience between them, previously threatened legal action against the corporation, claiming they were unfairly selected for redundancy.

US news agency Deadline claimed the presenters were aggrieved at the ‘humiliating’ recruitment process which reportedly entailed the qualified presenters taking screen tests in a small studio with a manual autocue – despite the fact many names had years or decades of experience.

‘I think they [Eades, Gosling, and Willcox] could not face the prospect of having to go through this ignominious process,’ one person with knowledge of the process was previously reported as saying in January.

A second said: ‘People are incandescent. It’s humiliating – you feel like you’re 21 again and applying for your first job on the BBC.’

Presenters previously alleged the process had been ‘rigged’ with a list of chief presenters being made before applications opened.

Yet sources later said the Beeb would ‘reverse ferret’ bringing them back under new job titles in a bid of avoid potential lawsuits following the merger that saw dozens of cuts.

An insider at the BBC told The Times the group were ‘litigious’ and would have the backing of the National Union of Journalists should they go to court.

‘Plus, the BBC is short of presenters so there are no grounds to make them redundant. And they’re all capable of doing the role,’ the insider said. ‘A reverse ferret is definitely the best plan.’

Guru-Murthy and McVeigh returned to their presenting chairs last month, with the later writing ‘so good to be bringing you the news again’. Both were promoted to chief presenting roles.

Listings for the proceedings, due to be held at London Central tribunal court from May 1, reveal the case also centres around equal pay. 

Geeta Guru Murthy who returned to the BBC screens as a chief presenter last month is also said to be involved 

BBC News presenter Karin Giannone, 50, is also reportedly involved in the legal action being taken 

It is set to be one of the most high-profile tribunals faced by the BBC since it lost a gender pay dispute with Newswatch presenter Samira Ahmed.

In 2020, the London hearing found that Ahmed should have been paid the same as fellow presenter Jeremy Vine for their work on Newswatch and Points Of View respectively. But the BBC argued the pair had not done similar work. 

They reportedly raised concerns about the way the BBC managed the recruitment process, claiming the corporation has already chosen who it wanted before people had even applied.

But BBC bosses were said to have rejected these claims after an internal review took place.

Ms Giannone and Ms Madera, like Ms Croxall have not appeared on the news channel in over a year.

Guru-Murthy and McVeigh returned to their presenting chairs last month, with the later writing ‘so good to be bringing you the news again’. 

‘Great to see Anita back on air again! #shesback,’ Ms Croxall wrote on X following Ms McVeigh’s return. 

Upon Ms Guru-Murthy’s return she wrote: ‘Straight back into the fray! Good to see Geeta Guru-Murthy in the BBC New hot seat. #shesback.’ 

Croxall confirmed her return in February – a year after she was first axed by the BBC – delighting fans that she would be back soon.

During her year out, Croxall appears to have spent much of her time travelling around the world. Pictured: On a hot air balloon in Mexico 

Croxall drinks a spicy margarita on her holiday travelling through Mexico just five weeks ago 

While celebrating her 55th birthday, the presenter was asked if viewers would see her back on their screens soon. 

She responded: ‘Yes my birthday is today and I have been thoroughly spoiled. Will be back on air in a few weeks. Take care of yourself.’ 

‘I will be back,’ she added. Just working out the details.’

Ms Croxall joined the corporation in 1991 following work experience with her location station, BBC Radio Leicester. 

She grew up in the country, attending an independent school before graduating from the University of Leeds.  

It is understood the mother-of-two has been discussing her future at the BBC with bosses.

On Christmas Eve all five remaining presenters were pictured together enjoying a drink at a pub. 

McVeigh posted: ‘Season’s Greetings to all my followers here, thanks for your support, and to these wonderful women ⁦for their friendship.’

Croxall on her travels, feeding an elephant in Thailand 

Another showed her skiing in Bulgaria or feeding elephants at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand

In 2022, she was briefly taken off air after breaking the corporation’s impartiality rules when reporting that Boris Johnson was stepping down from the Tory leadership race

It is set to be one of the most high-profile tribunals faced by the BBC since it lost a gender pay dispute with Newswatch presenter Samira Ahmed in 2020. Pictured: Ahmed (centre) arriving with supporters including BBC journalist Carrie Gracie (right)

In 2022, she was briefly taken off air after breaking the corporation’s impartiality rules

Croxall is set to take the corporation to an employment tribunal beginning on May 1, official documents have shown. Details of her claim remain unknown at this time

Croxall signed off for the last time on March 31 2023. Posting a video on social media to her fans, the experienced broadcaster said: ‘As you probably know a single BBC News channel will be with you from Monday.

‘This is me signing off from the BBC News channel in its current iteration from my happy place – Studio E. It has been the greatest privilege to broadcast to you from here all this time. Thank you for joining us.’

It led to a flood of colleagues from within the industry – many of whom previously worked at the BBC – wished her the best and thanking her for al her hard work. 

Times Radio presenter Ayesha Hazarika said:  ‘Was such a pleasure working with you on the papers. You’re a star. Good luck with your next adventure.’

GB News’ Political Editor Chirstopher Hope said ‘you are an absolute pro’ while former Newsnight producer Sam McAllister added: ‘You’re a bloody treat.’

The case, if it goes ahead, will be a blow to the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie who had said he was looking to find a ‘fair resolution’ to the situation.

The employment tribunal case also risks reigniting the huge controversy over the way the corporation has treated women.

BBC bosses came under huge pressure a few years ago over the way women were paid unequally at the corporation and were victims of discrimination.

As well as Samira Ahmed’s employment tribunal victory, former China editor Carrie Gracie won back pay and an apology from the BBC in 2018 over unequal pay.

The controversy led to the formation of a group of female staff at the corporation, called BBC Women, who took management to task over its record on fair treatment.

Ms Croxall’s case, as listed by the employment tribunal, is also believed to include the claim that she suffered detriment from being the member of a trade union. In the list of areas the case will cover there is also another reference to pay.

It has been suggested that the BBC has paid more than £1 million in salaries, as well as acting up pay and freelance cover costs, during the period these women had been off-air.

During her year out, Croxall appears to have spent much of her time travelling around the world.

Photos show her taking a hot air balloon ride above the Teotihuacán pyramids near Mexico City, while another video showed her swimming with whale sharks and sea lions off the Gulf of California. 

Another showed her skiing in Bulgaria or feeding elephants at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand. 

Ms Croxall was emotional when she announced the death of Prince Philip in a live broadcast 

The upcoming employment tribunal is not the first hurdle Croxall has faced throughout her long-running career at the BBC.

In 2022, she was briefly taken off air after breaking the corporation’s impartiality rules.

The blunder happened on October 23 after Boris Johnson ran out of the leadership contest that Rishi Sunak went on to win.

During the Sunday night edition of The Papers, where press members discuss the main stories of the day, she said in the wake of Johnson’s departure: ‘Well this is all very exciting, isn’t it? Am I allowed to be this gleeful? Well I am.’ 

Later in the show she also admitted that she was ‘probably breaking’ some of the BBC’s impartiality rules when she laughed at Tony Grew’s mocking of Johnson.

The corporation later ruled that Croxall had made ‘several remarks and reactions’ that caused ‘significant risk’ that the audience could believe ‘opinions were being expressed’ on the Conservative leadership race. She returned to air after 11 days off. 

Following the death of Prince Philip, Ms Croxall was close to tears as she interrupted the broadcast to break the news to the country.

She told viewers: ‘We are interrupting our normal programmes to bring you an important announcement.’

The newsreader appeared to choke up with emotion as she began reading the official statement from the Palace.

It led to an outpouring of sympathy from BBC viewers. One wrote on social media: ‘The BBC announcement was done very well and I really thought it was touching the way the newsreader was clearly emotional.’

Another added: ‘The bbc news caster is barely holding it together… bless her.’

Croxall’s legal action comes after World At One presenter Sarah Montague also previously confirmed she had won a £400,000 settlement and an apology from the BBC over unequal treatment.

In 2021 the BBC disclosed it had spent more than £1 million on legal fees fighting equal pay and race discrimination cases brought by staff.

The BBC declined to comment. MailOnline has contacted Croxall, Giannone, Guru-Murthy, McVeigh and Madera for comment.