It’s the slip-of-the-tongue all broadcasters live in fear of making – accidentally referring to Jeremy Hunt by the *very* rude word that rhymes with his last name.
It’s a mistake that has been made by some of the biggest TV and radio journalists in the game – and Victoria Derbyshire today became the latest victim of dropping the c-word whilst naming the foreign secretary.
In a debate about who should replace Theresa May as Tory Party leader, Derbyshire asked one of her guests: “You say that the man that you’re backing – Jeremy Cunt…
“I’m so sorry, Jeremy Hunt,” the BBC presenter corrected as she realised her mistake.
“I’ve never said that before in my life. It’s usually men who say that, so I really really want to apologise, I’m sorry.”
Derbyshire later clarified on Twitter that she meant it was usually male broadcasters who get Hunt’s name wrong – not that “men generally go arounds saying the word”.
It was a toe-curling slip-up – but Derbyshire is far from the first to make the mistake over Hunt’s last name.
Just last summer, Radio 4 Today presenter Justin Webb fumbled his consonants while referring to the then-health secretary.
“The paper says that health secretary Jeremy Cunt ... Hunt is understood to favour a cap on social care,” he said.
But perhaps the worst day for the unfortunately-named leadership contender was back in 2010 when Radio 4’s Jim Naughtie blundered over the word ‘Hunt’... only for Andrew Marr to accidentally say the exact same thing when reporting on the mistake later the very same day.
At least the foreign secretary is part of the joke. Speaking at the launch of his leadership campaign on Monday, Hunt was asked whether he would just be a “continuity Theresa May” if he became PM.
“Anyone who knows what my last name rhymes with will know I’ve been called a whole lot worse on the Today programme on the BBC,” he said. “I will be quite different to any of the prime ministers I have served.”