After keen-eyed viewers spotted Dancing on Ice Holly Willoughby supposedly swearing live on the show, Mancunian Matters looks back on five other times that presenters have ‘slipped up’ on TV.
During the introduction of last night’s episode of the popular ITV series Dancing on Ice, Stephen Mulhern made co-host Willoughby jump as she introduced Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi and her partner Sylvain Longchambon.
As reacted to the scare, it sounds like Willoughby mutters “f***” – but she has been quick to deny this.
Speaking after the incident, Willoughby said: “A little bit earlier on, Stephen may have made me jump and I think it might have sounded like a naughty word slipped out.
“I don’t think I did but I’m sorry if that’s what you thought you might have heard, but I don’t think I did.”
This isn’t the first time that a popular presenter has seemingly sworn on live national television, so let’s look back at some of the best.
Holly Willoughby – This Morning – 26 January 2023
Unfortunately for Willoughby, this was not the first time where a fright from a co-host led to a slip up from the host.
In January last year, when introducing horror film Knock at the Cabin, Willoughby was scared by former co-host Philip Schofield, prompting the 42-year-old to start to mutter “Fuuuu” before looking embarrassed at the camera.
Naga Munchetty – BBC Breakfast – 31 March 2023
Months later, a slip of the tongue meant that BBC morning TV host Munchetty swore live in front of thousands of viewers nationwide.
Intending to talk about a police hunt following a murder, Munchetty accidentally said: “Merseyside Police said it’ll c*** down those who helped.”
Isabel Webster and Eamonn Holmes – GB News – 7 June 2023
In the summer, months after his move from This Morning, Eamonn Holmes was caught swearing live on GB News alongside co-host Isabel Webster.
The pair – who were unaware that they were live in air – joked with each other as they prepared for the breakfast show.
Webster, adjusting her hair, says: “I’m a b***h. If only they knew! Pussycat me.”
Seconds later, Holmes looks down at the ground and says, “Now, how the f*** do I get home today?”
Maryam Moshiri – BBC News – 15 December 2023
In one of the most viral moments of 2023, BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri greeted the nation with a middle finger.
While it was later cleared up both by a statement from Moshiri and a video released by the BBC as the presenter counting down from ten in an unconventional way, it still made for a hilarious clip that spread across social media like wildfire.
Victoria Derbyshire – BBC News – June 2019
Last, but certainly not least, is an iconic slip up from Victoria Derbyshire on BBC News four years ago.
The BBC presenter was debating Conservative MP Steve Brine when she stumbled over the name of the former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt.
She said: “You say the man you are backing, Jeremy C***.”
Derbyshire immediately apologised for the mistake, saying: “I’ve never said that before in my life, it’s usually men who say that so I really, really want to apologise.”
Featured Image: This file is licensed under the CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED Unported license. Attribution: HM Treasury
