As the embarrassing details emerge from Sarkozy and Obama's Netanyahu rant, important types have been reminded to always be aware of the state of their microphone.
To fully underline this point, we've assembled the most embarrassing moments caught on mic.
The pair get a fit of the giggles courtesy of women's football. Quite hard not to laugh along, but only because one man's giggles is another man's, erm, giggles.
George W. Bush --
“Yo, Blair,” drawled Dubya to the ex Prime Minister at a 2006 G8 summit. “They need to get Hezbolla to stop doing this sh*t.” We have a stray microphone to thank for this insight into the delicate intricacies of modern political leadership.
As with all things George W. he's got more than one on mic blunder. Here he is at an election rally in 2000. Having spotted journalist Adam Clymer he called him a "major-league a**hole". Takes one to know... Never mind.
Prince Phillip -- Many a blunder has come from the Queen's man but few are actually caught on mic. He saw to that when he met Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. As the YUS President described how he had spent the day meeting British politicians, Chinese leaders and the Russians, a guffawing Philip blurted out: Can you tell the difference between them?
Gordon Brown - Was this the moment he lost the election? Probably not. But getting caught branding an Oldham pensioner a “bigoted woman” (then all but donning sackcloth and ashes to apologise) hardly helped Gordo’s cause.
Ronald Reagan -- During sound check for a 1984 address President Reagan’s joshing (“My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes”) was unwittingly broadcast.
Jesse Jackson -- The civil rights campaigner said he wanted to cut Barack Obama's "nuts off" ahead of a TV interview in 2008 and accused Obama of "speaking down to black people".
Prince Charles -- "Bloody people. I can't bear that man. I mean, he is so awful, he really is." The Prince of Wales about BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell during a press photocall in Klosters, unaware that we could hear every word.
Dan Quayle -- The then US Vice-President was widely regarded to have scuppered his presidential hopes when a series of gaffes culminated in a clanger watched by millions on TV news broadcasts. At a school spelling contest, Mr Quayle "corrected" a child's spelling of the word potato by adding an "e" to the end. Not specifically a mic blunder, but any excuse to show it...
And two we can't find footage for, but assure you did happen:
Jacques Chirac-- “The only thing they have ever done for European agriculture is mad cow disease.” With the aid of an open mike, the former President does his bit for Anglo-Gallic relations.
Pat Cash -- “Bet she’s up the duff,” chuckled the commentator after spotting Lleyton Hewitt’s girlfriend at Wimbledon 2005. Sadly his mic was switched on and his robust brand of midwifery was broadcast to thousands.
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