TV host refuses to play victim to woman problem

A guest host appearing on ABC News Breakfast has been labelled a hero after refusing to hide a personal struggle that struck her live on-air.

A guest host appearing on the ABC’s breakfast show has been praised after she stopped mid-sentence to confess that she was having a severe hot flush.

Imogen Crump, an editor at the University of Melbourne’s Pursuit and Research news website, was discussing the day’s headlines on ABC’s News Breakfast on Wednesday when she suddenly stopped.

“I’m so sorry, I could keep stumbling through, but I’m having such a perimenopausal hot flush right now, live on air, sorry,” Ms Crump said.

Presenter Lisa Millar immediately praised Ms Crump for her honesty.

Imogen Crump stopped reading out headlines due to a hot flush.

“We need to make it normal to have these kinds of conversations and I love you for even saying it, because we interview people, we talk to people about this and this is the reality,” Ms Millar said.

Ms Crump then tried to cool herself down by fanning her face with her hands and replied: “I don’t think hormones respect national television.”

Co-host Michael Rowland then told Crump that she could “take a breather” to cool herself down and the rest of the panel resumed their discussions.

A short white later, Ms Millar then told viewers at home: “Imogen is back with us”.

Imogen was praised by hosts Michael Rowland and Lisa Millar for her honesty.

The woman went on to explain that while her flushes don’t last long, they make her “the furnace from the sun”.

She later took to social media following her appearance to talk about what had happened on-air.

“Most days, I can work through all the varieties of weirdness perimenopause throws at me in private – or at least in a quiet room at work,” she said. “The hot flashes, anxiety, brain fog, itchiness and sore gums (yes) can be distracting and sometimes distressing.

Imogen Crump with her partner Warren Flentje.

“However, this morning my hormones decided to throw themselves at me live on ABC News Breakfast,” she continued. “I could either pretend it wasn’t happening (and look inept) or explain why I was stumbling my way through a story on bilateral relations.

“In the moment, I chose to explain. Lisa Millar and Michael Rowland were lovely (as were the wider ABC Breakfast team supplying water and reassurance, and the audience sending kind messages in).”

She added: “Do I wish it hadn’t happened on live TV? Yes. But if it’s a step toward having public conversations about something that at least half the population will experience in some form or other, then good.”

Women rushed to praise her on-air reaction, and shared how proud they were of her.

“Thank you for your authenticity – the more we can all be real with each other, the more people will be able to reach out when they need support, knowing they will be heard and understood,” wrote one follower.

While another added: “So glad it wasn’t ‘glossed over’ – it was just a real person doing a normal thing – and you just made it even more normal!”