BBC News Apologises After 'Manchester United Are Rubbish' Message Flashes Up During Live Broadcast

"Some of you might have noticed something pretty unusual... let me just explain what was happening."
BBC News viewers got a shock during Tuesday's live broadcast
BBC News viewers got a shock during Tuesday's live broadcast
BBC

BBC News has apologised after viewers spotted some slightly strange messages flashing up on their ticker on Tuesday morning.

During the live broadcast, unusual messages including “Manchester United are rubbish” and “Weather: rain everywhere” flashed up on screen during the news, alongside regular headlines about the more serious news of the day.

The messages did not go unnoticed by viewers, who were left questioning exactly what was going on behind the scenes:

Errrr… what is going on with the BBC News ticker? pic.twitter.com/fofbiGyMfs

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) May 24, 2022

For a few moments this morning the BBC News ticker said the words “Manchester United are rubbish.” pic.twitter.com/wb0CGcYYS9

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) May 24, 2022

Fair enough 😭 @ManUtd @BBCNews @BBCSport #manchesterunited #bbcheadlines #BBCBreakfast #bbc pic.twitter.com/IeIAXXTX8v

— sparrowspatz 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@sparrowspatz) May 24, 2022

BBC: "Manchester United are rubbish". Not really breaking news is it? pic.twitter.com/rY5VdEFZyW

— James Nalton (@JDNalton) May 24, 2022

It’s the “weather rain everywhere” for me 😂

— Emma Fawkner 🖤 (@efawkner) May 24, 2022

Just seen this pop along the bottom of the screen on @BBCNews 🤣🤣🤣 looks like it’s someone’s last day at work @ManUtd @NUFC @ladbible pic.twitter.com/0E2aYqKjW3

— alan clark (@alan_a_clark) May 24, 2022

😂 Even the BBC News ticker is laughing at Manchester United...pic.twitter.com/EGxBnNwmub

— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 24, 2022

Well, a couple of hours later, the BBC offered up an explanation (and an apology to fans of Manchester United).

“A little earlier some of you might have noticed something pretty unusual on the ticker that runs along the bottom of the screen with news, making a comment about Manchester United,” their anchor explained. “And I hope that Manchester United fans weren’t offended by it. Let me just explain what was happening.

“Behind the scenes, someone was training to learn how to use the ticker, and to put text on the ticker, so they were just writing random things, not in earnest. And that comment appeared.

“So, apologies if you saw that and you were offended, and you’re a fan of Manchester United, but certainly that was a mistake, and it wasn’t meant to appear on the screen. So that was what happened, we just thought we’d better explain that to you.”

UPDATE: BBC News have apologised.

They say that a trainee was learning how to write text for the ticker and accidentally published them onto the BBC News Channel. pic.twitter.com/OkjPIkJAoo

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) May 24, 2022

Apology by BBC News after a trainee, learning how to put text on the ticker (the headlines that run along the bottom of the screen) accidentally published the words "Manchester United are rubbish" live on the broadcast...

Fair and accurate reporting, imo.pic.twitter.com/LzVAWt2lCT

— Rob O'Hanrahan (@RobOHanrahan) May 24, 2022

A BBC spokesperson added: “There was a technical glitch during training with our test ticker, which rolled over to live programming for a few seconds. We apologised for any offence caused on air.”

This isn’t the first time in recent history that BBC News has given its viewers an unintentional laugh, though.

Earlier this month, Huw Edwards was delayed live on air after munching on a croissant in between links, while Victoria Derbyshire was previously caught short after a troublesome pair of high heels caused her to miss her cue.

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