We respect live news reporters.
Faced by a wall of television cameras and microphones, they're expected to utter nothing but the most concise, comprehensive words of breaking truth for the duration of their slots. It's a hard job, and we just want to take this opportunity to offer them a hearty pat on the back. Before we laugh at them.
Following Michael Smith's unfortunate slip up on ESPN, and the hilarity that ensued his understandable slip, we've put together a list of our favourite unfortunate F-bombs and Freudian slips of live broadcasting.
Poor lambs.
Michael Smith loves that crazy sh*t
"And in other news..." is that opportunity to break up the dryer pieces of the day - a slice of good humour and warmth in a sea of hate and fear. For ESPN's Michael Smith, a story that saw Anthony Zettel uprooting trees with this tackling skills saw him get a little too lose in the tongue. His attempt to make light of the remark is even funnier than the incident itself.
James Naughtie's Freudian slip
With over 20 years of experience on Radio 4's Today programme, James Naughtie is the consummate broadcasting professional - but even failed to hold it together after an unfortunate slip of the tongue when discussing an upcoming slot with Jeremy Hunt, culture secretary.
A J Clemente has a bad first day
"Don't fuck it up" is a thought process best kept internal - particularly if it's your first day in the job. Unfortunately for this fresh news anchor of NBC North Dakota, he didn't realise his mic was on during his foul-mouthed pep talk.
Debbie Edward's casual blunder
While we have sympathy with all live broadcasters caught in a moment of bother, Debbie Edward's report from the frozen wastes of... somewhere, is harder to understand. Having filed her report, Edward apparently managed to miss an all-too audible casual swear mid report. Maybe she was just hoping people would pay more attention to the piece?
The heroic nonchalance of Harry Chance
Reporting tips 101: never slip into the vernacular - particularly in reference to fornication. Yet despite this Fox News reporter's use of an inappropriate bonking term, interviewee Harry Chance manages to inject some cold-hard professionalism back into the piece without missing a beat. Well done that man. Sign him up.
