Alex Scott has revealed she came dangerously close to quitting the TV industry after a ‘testing couple of months’ as she was honoured for her broadcasting work at the Royal Television Society Awards on Tuesday.
The Football Focus host was awarded the Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit prize at the ceremony in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Celebrating her win with girlfriend Jess Glynne, Alex shared an impassioned speech on her Instagram Stories, highlighting the challenges she’s faced as a black woman in a male-dominated industry.
It comes after an investigation by The Mail revealed that Alex is the sole female main anchor across Saturday terrestrial television.
In her statement Alex wrote: ‘I really am blown away by winning this award especially being in the same category with people whom I respect so much.
Alex Scott has revealed she came dangerously close to quitting the TV industry after a ‘testing couple of months’ as she was honoured at the Royal Television Society Awards on Tuesday
The Football Focus host was awarded the Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit prize at the ceremony in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel
‘I can’t begin to tell you how very timely and a big reminder this is for me. The last couple of months have been very tresting and for the first time I have questioned my position and even thought about quitting and walking away from this industry.
‘A female in a male-dominated space, and a black female at that, has been a challenge.
‘I know I am strong and made of tough stuff, but to shoulder and fight the fight against the racist/sexist people of this world everyday gets heavier and heavier and feels lonely at times.
‘There is still so much work to be done in this space and this is why it’s such a privilege to win this award and be recognised.
‘I will be sitting smiling on The One Show soft tomorrow with my award and will keep showing all the young girls who watch me and want to follow in my footsteps to keep going believe in yourself and that you are doing bloody great!!
‘Thank you RTS for this award it means the world to me! Let’s gooooo!’
Stephen Lyle, Head of Football at BBC Sport also showed his support for Alex, after the former Arsenal star was hit by vile trolling for landing the role as host of Football Focus.
He said: ‘This award is testament to Alex’s exceptional talent and dedication to delivering football presentation that audiences love.
Alex shared an impassioned speech, highlighting the challenges she’s faced as a black woman in a male-dominated industry
‘In the face of totally unwarranted and unacceptable online hate and blatant misogyny, she acts with grace, professionalism and incredible resilience.
‘Alex is not only a pivotal part of our presenter line-up, but a role model both in sport and TV.’
Alex also shared an Instagram clip of the moment she learned about her awards win while on board a flight, and celebrated by toasting champagne with her girlfriend Jess Glynne.
Alex’s comments come after several female pundits, including Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward were singled out by former footballer Joey Barton, who has shared a series of vile sexist messages.
He compared Aluko and female commentator Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West last month, before then saying the former was ‘clearly in the Joseph Stalin category’ for ‘murdering hundreds of thousands of fans’ ears’.
After receiving support from ITV, Aluko revealed that she had taken legal action against Barton, while also claiming she left the UK due to being ‘genuinely scared’ for her safety following Barton’s comments.
Alex herself has previously detailed the abuse she suffered online after reports suggested that she was to replace Sue Barker as the host of A Question of Sport.
The former professional footballer turned pundit received a slew of racist abuse online after being incorrectly tipped to become presenter of the classic BBC quiz show in 2021.
Speaking to The Times, Scott revealed that the torrent of abuse directed towards her left her fearing for her life.
Alex also shared an Instagram clip of the moment she learned about her awards win while on board a flight, and celebrated by toasting champagne with her girlfriend Jess Glynne
‘I was scared to leave my house to even go to the shop. That’s the stage that we’d got to – that, oh my gosh, someone black might be replacing a national treasure could cause such hatred,’ she explained.
The abuse reached such an extent that Scott turned to alcohol, but later found therapy as an effective way to come to terms with the more extreme reactions she received over social media.
Though the A Question of Sport job would ultimately go to Paddy McGuinness, Scott’s experiences as the target of abuse online would only continue.
In particular, Scott was targeted during coverage of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, with crossbench peer Lord Digby Jones suggesting that she would benefit from lessons in elocution due to her East End accent.
The former government minister wrote on Twitter: ‘Enough! I can’t stand it any more! Alex Scott spoils a good presentational job on the BBC Olympics Team with her very noticeable inability to pronounce her ‘g’s at the end of a word. Competitors are NOT taking part, Alex, in the fencin, rowin, boxin, kayakin, weightliftin & swimmin.’
Scott explained that while she is often able to take the comments from detractors online, that she found herself in a particularly vulnerable state following the Olympics last year.
‘I can slip into dark places. And once I slip into dark places, I don’t stop. I loved being out at the Olympics, but afterwards I realised the mad pressure that I’d put on myself to take everything – the trolling, the racism, Lord Digby Jones.’
The former Arsenal star also described the euphoria of being at Wembley when the Lionesses finally ended 56 years of hurt by lifting the Women’s European Championship in dramatic scenes in extra time.
‘Being at Wembley and seeing them win was a full-circle moment for me. I remember crying on air to Gabby [Logan], because I knew it was much more than just lifting a trophy – it was about perceptions of females in society.’
Out of 17 programmes across BBC One and ITV1 on a Saturday, Football Focus is the only one to be presented solely by a woman.
Alex hosts Football Focus at midday on BBC One on a Saturday, but after 12pm the afternoon is dominated by male hosts.
Out of 61 programmes on BBC One and ITV1 only seven women appeared as main anchors this weekend and last weekend.
ITV1’s morning schedule is also heavily dominated by male presenters, including Alan Titchmarsh, James Martin and Ant and Dec.
It comes after an investigation by The Mail revealed that Alex is the sole female main anchor across Saturday terrestrial television
The BBC and ITV have previously been pulled into a sexism row over female presenters.
In January Sandi Toksvig, the former Great British Bake Off host, told Radio Times there were not enough women hosting TV chat and game shows.
‘I would still like to see more women in charge of shows. Let’s not even start on chat show hosts. Where are the female chat show hosts?’
In March 2023 five female BBC News presenters were sidelined as part of a merger between the BBC’s domestic and foreign news channels.
The BBC has been criticised internally for its treatment of the women and was pressed into beginning an investigation into its recruitment process.
