Fiona Bruce removes cross after PC debate
She is more used to reading the headlines than making them.
So as the row over Fiona Bruce's cross necklace continued, the offending article was conspicuously absent as she presented the 10 o'clock News.
• BBC bosses in PC row over newsreader's cross
Her decision not to wear it comes as Jack Straw found himself accused of offending Muslims after revealing that he asks women to remove their veils during meetings.
The story led the BBC news agenda on Thursday night when Miss Bruce was presenting for the first time since it was revealed that governors had been agonising over whether her cross necklace might cause offence by suggesting a religious affiliation.
The Corporation is not thought to have received any complaints over the necklace, which the 42-year-old newsreader has worn may times over the years.
Nevertheless it was the subject of intense discussion between politically correct executives who argued that staff on screen should not wear anything hinting at political or religious leaning.
The debate began during a seminar about impartiality last month when hypothetical questions, including whether a female Muslim newsreader should wear the hijab, or headscarf, were considered.
It was brought up by Director of News Helen Boaden and led to some executives saying it should not be allowed.
The BBC insisted that Oxford educated Miss Bruce, a mother of two, had not been banned from wearing the cross.
However it was missing on Thursday when she presented the 10 0'clock News, which led with the highly sensitive Jack Straw story.
He has caused outrage amongst the Muslim community by admitting he asks women to remove their veils because he feels "uncomfortable" talking to someone he cannot see.
Miss Bruce also chose to leave her cross necklace off on Wednesday night when she attended a breast cancer charity dinner.
Last night a spokesman for the BBC said: "We don't have rules on what people can wear so its really up to her own discretion what necklace she chooses".
