BBC News biggest gaffes – missing presenter, fake typing and rude gestures

BBC News is responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world.

The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online news coverage and maintains 50 foreign news bureaus with more than 250 correspondents around the world.

However, some things don't go quite to plan when the cameras start rolling and presenter start discussing breaking news in front of millions of people watching at home.

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Daily Star takes a look back at some memorable gaffes which occurred live on air in front of the nation, with some presenters becoming viral social media sensations.

Middle finger to camera

Maryam Moshiri, one of the BBC's chief news readers, went viral after she was seen flipping her middle finger to the camera live on air before reading headlines about former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The TV star was seen raising her eyebrows and flipping off the camera as she comes on-screen after the famous musical countdown ended. The 46-year-old mum-of-three seemed unaware the cameras were already rolling and has since issued an apology.

'Equipment' joke

Peter Levy was hosting an evening edition of the BBC News in East Yorkshire when an innocent question posed to weather presenter Paul Hudson left the presenter red-faced. Peter explained to the audience that a technical glitch earlier in the day meant that the weather graphics system had stopped working. "At lunchtime, his equipment wasn't working," Peter said. He then turned to Paul, who was based in a studio outside the news centre to ask: "Is it repaired?" Paul, who had his hands in his pockets, came out with a cheeky dig that left Pete cowering in shock. He quipped: "Well, I think you'll find my 10-week daughter proves there's nothing wrong with my equipment, Peter."

Introduction blunder

Newsreader Gareth Barlow poked fun at himself after he got confused introducing the news headlines. The TV presenter slipped up as he opened the news programme but laughed off the blunder asking his 11.8k social media followers: "Can someone please remind me who’s watching the news." Barlow shared a clip of himself introducing the headlines saying: "Hello, I'm watching…" He then stumbled: "I'm watching the BBC news… I'm Gareth Barlow. You're watching BBC News."

Fake typing

BBC Points West presenter Pam Caulfield become an unlikely viral sensation after she was caught "fake typing" on her laptop during a live broadcast. The TV star had viewers in stitches as she made a sudden attempt to 'look busy' as her news programme came to an abrupt end. Fans saw Pam's fingers "not actually touch the keyboard" as she pretended to frantically tap away. As her afternoon news bulletin came to an end, she told her viewers: "But that’s it from me! I hope you have a lovely afternoon, whatever you’re up to. Goodbye." However, Pam mistakenly thought that the camera in front of her was the one filming her but instead it was the camera filming her from the side – which meant viewers saw the baffling incident in full.

Arms in the air

BBC News' Lukwesa Burak was left red-faced when she was caught off-guard during a cut away from the studio. The blunder occurred as the newsreader introduced a segment away from the studio, saying: "Around the world and across the UK, this is BBC News." Viewers watched the BBC News logo flash up on screen before the programme cut to footage of a crowd listening to bagpipes player. However, the screen prematurely cut back to the studio just as the newsreader lifted up both her arms, in what appeared to be a stretch, as she said: "Okay." Lukwesa immediately clocked the camera had returned to her live in the studio and seemed to be suppressing laughter as she looked down at her notes while sitting in silence for 30 seconds before continuing with the programme.

'Missing' presenter

Martine Croxall had to react quickly after a bulletin began with viewers seeing just an empty chair as she was in front of the wrong camera. The presenter was unruffled as the nine o'clock news programme began with her in a different area of the studio. She spoke from outside of the camera's viewpoint as viewers were greeted with the bizarre sight of an empty desk. The journalist said: "Good evening and welcome to BBC News. I'm Martine Croxall, it's nine o'clock. I'm just going to move back to the main set. I know this has happened before but here we are. If I sidle in you can pretend like you haven't noticed."

Rude gesture

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The BBC issued an apologised after weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker was caught making a rude gesture live on air. He raised his middle finger after news presenter Simon McCoy jokingly said his forecast would be "100% accurate". After realising he had been shown on screen, Schafernaker tried to cover up by pretending to scratch his chin. "The News Channel presenter in the studio acknowledged a mistake had been made, and we apologise for any offence caused," a BBC spokesman said at the time. "Tomasz was not aware that he was on air, and whilst the gesture was only shown for a second, it was not acceptable."

'TV's funniest interview'

Former job applicant Guy Goma became an internet hero in 2006 after being wrongly interviewed on-air by the BBC who had mistaken him for a tech expert. But now he's revealed he plans to sue the broadcaster as he wants a share of the royalties from his viral video clip, which has been viewed 5.2million times on YouTube. The computer technician insists he's received no money for his notorious interview on BBC News 24 and reckons he deserves payment for it 17 years after the event. Speaking to hosts Josh Pieters and Archie Manners on DASH Water’s Accidental Celebrities series, Goma claimed he'd reached out to the BBC but they hadn't responded to him.

Work From Home problem

An academic who shot to internet fame when his two children crashed his live BBC interview shared adorable new family photo to mark the six year anniversary of the viral moment. In March 2017, Professor Robert Kelly appeared on BBC News via a video link to offer his expert insights on South Korean politics. However, the interview became an instant internet sensation when his daughter Marion, then four, burst into her dad's office with her baby brother James hot on her heels in his walker. Robert managed to ignore the chaos behind him as his wife Jung-a rushed into the room to remove their excitable children.

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