BBC News presenter worries fans as she ‘struggles to speak’ live on air and bosses pull her from screens
NEWSREADER Maryam Moshiri caused concern among viewers after coughing live on air meant she had difficulty speaking.
Maryam, 46, was unable to finish her introduction to a clip due to the coughing.
As a result, the director cut to the clip slightly earlier than planned.
The presenter shared a clip of the awkward moment on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “When you get that horrible tickly throat and coughing fit – but you are broadcasting!
“Had to give up after a bit! Thanks to director Sarah for going to the clip early for me!!”
Viewers took to X to share their worry for Maryam, with one writing under her post: “I always feel sorry when this happens to news presenters.
“Is there a reason why reporters don’t seem to be allowed to have a glass of water on the desk? (Or is one hidden underneath?!).”
BBC News' Biggest Blunders
The Beeb has suffered a number of gaffes recently, here we take a look at the biggest, and funniest, mishaps to date:
- Maryam Moshiri flashing her middle finger during a live bulletin
- Tongued-tied sports presenter Chetan Pathak dropped an X-rated word during a report
- BBC Look North’s Peter Levy asked viewers “how big their holes are” during an innuendo-filled segment
- Newsreader Roger Johnson was left scrambling after saying “cuckoo c*ck” instead of clock
- BBC Breakfast’s Nina Warhurst mixing up the names of her co-hosts live on air
- The news correspondent is mistaken for shop staff and interrupted during the report
- Lukwesa Burak was left speechless after being caught stretching during a break
- Newsreader forced to run across the studio during epic camera mishap
Another commented: “Give her some water!”, while a third wrote: “Yes familiar with these. Allergies and hayfever season are around the corner – my triggers. Well handled by you and the team.”
A fourth added: “Watched it Maryam and you caught it perfectly together with Sarah and it can always come on suddenly such a cough!
“You and your team are top notch, professional and with a touch of humor every now and then! High quality.”
As it happens, this is not the first time Maryam has gone viral.
Last December, the BBC presenter was caught giving the middle finger live on air in a mortifying moment.
Maryam was standing by to deliver the main headlines but the camera caught her as she joked with bosses behind the scenes and flashed the middle finger.
Unfortunately, the blunder happened just as the show came on air.
Maryam apologised in a statement shared on social media, explaining her action had been a ‘private joke’ intended for the studio team and wasn’t supposed to be on air.
She wrote: “Hey everyone, yesterday just before the top of the hour I was joking around a bit with the team in the gallery.
“I was pretending to count down as the director was counting me down from 10-0.. including the fingers to show the number.
“So from 10 fingers held up to one. When we got to 1 I turned my finger around as a joke and did not realise that this would be caught on camera.
“It was a private joke with the team and I’m so sorry it went out on air! It was not my intention for this to happen and I’m sorry if I offended or upset anyone.
“I wasn’t ‘flipping the bird’ at viewers or even a person really. It was a silly joke that was meant for a small number of my mates.”