BBC News anchor Annita McVeigh had no idea that cameras were rolling
A BBC newsreader was unknowingly caught scrolling on her phone for a whole minute while on the air, in a moment that has done the rounds online.
The news host was like a deer in headlights when she realised what had happened.
It’s not the first blooper from a BBC newsreader in the last year or so, following an incident with Maryam Moshiri’s which saw her flip off the entire nation in one of the funniest viral moments of 2023.
Moshiri admitted that she was ‘joking around’ with the production team as she was ‘pretending to count down’.
However, the latest blunder on the news show features newsreader Annita McVeigh. Prepare to feel very sorry for her as you watch the clip below:
The 46-year-old was left embarrassed as she could be seen using her phone for a minute while chatting to some of the crew during a live broadcast, not knowing that cameras were rolling.
After that minute, she realised that the lunchtime news bulletins had gone silent after doing what most of us do in our downtime: scrolling on our phones.
The clip was shared on X by TV critic Scott Bryan, who captioned it: “The moment Annita started checking her phone was when I started panicking.”
After the silence, the anchorwoman realised she had been live, and flipped a switch as she continued as the professional newsreader that she is, soldiering on as the top stories of the day played, as the audio cuts in for the final few seconds.
It then transitioned into a special ‘Inside Afghanistan’ report, as the reporter locked in extremely quickly, impressing some viewers on social media.
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The newsreader had no idea that she was live (BBC)
One user pointed out on X: “Seems to be way more technical bloopers happening on BBC News these days…is it the same team as do [sic] the shonky work on the new Newsnight?”
Another said: “I thought my laptop speakers were on the blink.”
A third pointed out the newsreader’s cool head, saying: “Annita is such a pro, laughing at this.”
The clip has garnered over 97,000 views since it was posted since being posted on Monday (9 September) afternoon.
McVeigh, a mother-of-two who had been part of the BBC from 2006 to 2023 before returning in February this year, had been promoted to chief presenter recently.
Viewers enjoyed another hilarious BBC News blooper on social media (BBC)
The newsreader also broke her silence following the incident, posting a promotional message for her upcoming debate on the highly-anticipated US election.
She wrote: “Talking about the big debate on BBC News Now with @BrettBruen & @JuliaManch@thehill – that’s coming up @BBCNews from 1200-1500 BST #harristrumpdebate2024.”
I think it’s fair to say that she’s not fazed by it all, and you have to give her credit for how she’s handled it.
LADbible has contacted the BBC for a comment.
