Naga Munchetty 'frightened' by Halloween costumes
BBC Breakfast issued a warning to parents and viewers ahead of Halloween on Friday's show.
Presenter Naga Munchetty issued a stark warning, pointing out: "It's less than a week until Halloween and parents are being warned that some fancy dress costumes could pose a serious risk to children."
The programme featured a shocking segment that revealed alarming government research indicating 80% of costumes bought from various online marketplaces do not meet basic safety standards. In collaboration with Yorkshire Fire Service, a firefighter demonstrated the significant differences in flammability between high street and online costumes.
The firefighter noted that costumes from UK high streets, including those from supermarkets, come with safety labels, while those from online marketplaces often lack any labelling or indication of safety standards.
When attempting to ignite high street Halloween costumes, the firefighter showed that due to their fire-retardant properties, they barely catch fire and tend to self-extinguish, reports the Mirror.
In stark contrast, costumes from online marketplace sellers caught fire rapidly and continued to burn, highlighting a grave difference from their high street counterparts. One particular online costume ignited extremely quickly, leading the firefighter to remark on its rapid combustion and the unpleasant odour produced as the flames consumed the material.
Parents have been urged to opt for trusted brands and purchase costumes directly from official websites rather than marketplaces. A firefighter highlighted the risks, stating that although some online purchases may not catch fire, it's a gamble, and no matter which costume children wear this Halloween, they must be kept away from open flames.
Following the segment, presenter Naga, 49, expressed her concern: "It's really frightening when you see those images and you see what those costumes [do]."
It comes as Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman hasn't embraced a full Halloween costume since a harrowing event in 2014. The fateful night that changed everything saw her then eight-year-old daughter Matilda suffer serious burns after coming into contact with a candle in her fancy dress costume while they were out trick or treating.
Matilda's costume caught fire in an instant, resulting in severe damage to her legs, and their neighbour subsequently acquired second-degree burns trying to halt the rapidly spreading flames. In the wake of the nightmare, Claudia briefly stepped back from her Strictly duties as her family grappled with the ordeal. Halloween remains a holiday that brings no joy to Claudia.
She shared her pain in an interview with The Mail: "I don't like Halloween because [a few] years ago it turned out our screams were real. She 'went up' is the only way I can describe it - it was a spark, and she screamed out for me." She further recounted the traumatic episode: "It was like those horrific birthday candles that you blow out and they come back. It was really fast. It was definitely life-changing for me."
Following the harrowing event, Claudia triumphed in her campaign to make children's fancy dress costumes safer.
BBC Breakfast continues on weekdays at 6am on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
