BBC News hit by huge technical blunder on-air as report 'thrown into total silence'

BBC News presenter suffers blunder live on air

BBC News presumably ran into broadcasting difficulties while presenter Annita McVeigh was live on air. It appeared the sound was missing from the picture for a few seconds as the show host didn’t realise she was on camera.

Northern Irish broadcaster Annita, 46, appeared not to notice she was live on BBC on Monday (September 9). Instead of addressing the nation, she began scrolling on her mobile phone and chatting to someone off-screen.

Eventually, the sound returned to the broadcast, with Annita putting her phone down before looking into the camera. “So, I think it’s the same as last time,” she could be heard saying while the BBC News jingle could be heard in the background.

The clip then launched into the afternoon’s headlines, including a special report titled ‘Inside Afghanistan’. The on-air blunder was initially shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by podcaster and TV critic Scott Bryan.

Alongside the one-minute 14-second video, he wrote: “The moment Annita started checking her phone was when I started panicking.” In a follow-up, he added context by typing: “Basically there was a minute on BBC News earlier with no sound and the presenter not realising they were on air.

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Annita went on her mobile phone during the live broadcast (Image: BBC)

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Annita McVeigh seemingly didn't realise she was on air while presenting BBC News (Image: BBC)

Annita’s blunder has since been viewed on social media over 19,000 times and fans of BBC News have come out in droves to have their say.

One viewer commented: “I know TV people like to say they don't watch television (weird flex), but if you are the involved in putting out live TV, you should be watching I reckon.”

Another said: “I thought my laptop speakers were on the blink.”

“Reading her shopping list,” joked another.

Express.co.uk has contacted BBC for further information regarding the live television error.

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Annita, originally from County Armagh, graduated from Queens' University in Belfast and joined BBC NI’s Newsline before moving to BBC Network News.

The mother-of-two has served as a presenter on the BBC News channel since 2006 but briefly left the corporation in 2023.

In February, Annita returned to the helm and was promoted to chief presenter.

At the time of the announcement, she took to social media and wrote: “….and I’m back. In Studio C with #NewsNow until 1500GMT - so good to be bringing you the news again.”

BBC News hit by huge technical blunder on-air as report 'thrown into total silence'

BBC News hit by huge technical blunder on-air as report 'thrown into total silence'

BBC News hit by huge technical blunder on-air as report 'thrown into total silence'

BBC News hit by huge technical blunder on-air as report 'thrown into total silence'

BBC News hit by huge technical blunder on-air as report 'thrown into total silence'