Charlie Stayt was obliged to issue an apology to BBC Breakfast viewers after his colleague fell victim to an awkward mishap during the live broadcast on Friday (March 14).
Co-presenting with Nina Warhurst, Charlie was accompanying Matt Taylor’s weather updates during the morning show. Yet, a tech hiccup meant Matt’s segment from Cheltenham came to an abrupt halt as viewers found themselves unable to hear anything.
With the sound gone, the camera swung back to a bewildered Charlie and Nina who quickly apolgised to BBC viewers. Charlie remarked: “OK, my apologies. We seem to have… Matt is still talking, we can’t hear him! That’s a problem.”
He noted the irony of Matt being able to hear him even though the viewers couldn’t hear Matt, adding: “Matt, I think you could hear me then, which is slightly awkward because he’s still there listening now.”
Charlie was then seen engaging with someone off-camera, likely a producer, before ensuring viewers that they would be revisited by Matt for a complete weather update from Cheltenham once the issue was sorted, reports the Express.
In reassurance, Charlie said: “Is that going to get any better? Do we go back to Matt? No, we’re going to leave that for the time. We will get a full weather forecast from Cheltenham with Matt and we’ll get all of that sorted out.”
To this, Nina added: “We know how important the weather is to everyone watching!”
The glitch didn’t escape notice on social media where some BBC Breakfast spectators suggested the weathercaster might be better off broadcasting from within the confines of the studio.
A viewer expressed their thoughts on the incident on X, stating: “So we can’t hear Matt the weather guy who’s at Cheltenham for some reason. Suggestion – stay in the studio next time. #bbcbreakfast.” And another said: “#bbcbreakfast Why did he need to be in Cheltenham? Now we can’t hear him.. T**s…” (sic)
Matt was soon back on BBC Breakfast, this time joined by Mike Bushell live from Cheltenham Racecourse.
The two presenters let viewers know that they’d be sharing more updates on the weather and Cheltenham Festival, but things quickly took a turn as they spotted horses heading in their direction.
Mike and Matt hastily wrapped up their broadcast, leaping out of the way of the oncoming horses with a chuckle.
BBC Breakfast airs on BBC One on weekdays at 6am