BBC Breakfast’s Ben Thompson Caught Off Guard During Live Broadcast
BBC Breakfast’s Ben Thompson experienced an unexpected moment during the live morning show, leaving him momentarily flustered. On August 4, Thompson was co-hosting with Sarah Campbell as they filled in for regular hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent. The pair started the day by delivering the latest news headlines from around the globe. Due to the Olympics coverage, the program was moved from its usual home on BBC One to BBC Two just 45 minutes into the show.
As the hosts welcomed viewers back, Thompson was caught on camera speaking to Campbell, unaware that the show was back on air. He was left giggling when he realized the broadcast had resumed. A clearly flustered Thompson said, “Hello. Welcome if you’re joining us on BBC Two. This is Breakfast with Sarah Campbell and Ben Thompson and let’s take you straight to Carol because she’s got a look at the weather for us this morning.”
This light-hearted moment came after the show faced backlash for airing graphic surgery footage during an early 7:30 a.m. slot on Sunday, August 4. The segment detailed patient Pinky Jolley’s near-fatal battle with sepsis and her reliance on a feeding tube for two years following botched treatment in Turkey, told The Mirror.
Viewers were shown close-up visuals of Pinky’s bariatric surgery while the attending surgeon narrated each cut into her body. The graphic content led viewers to express their grievances on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
An appalled X user wrote, “Graphic surgery scenes this early in a morning… yum #bbcbreakfast,” as reported by the Express. Another viewer said, “Surgery and dog s**t lovely Sunday topics this morning #BBCBreakfast.”
A third viewer chimed in, “Would have been nice if Pinky highlighted the dangers of surgery in Turkey considering we are paying for the remedial surgery #BBCBreakfast.” Another sarcastic comment read, “You get what you pay for @BBCBreakfast CRAZY to risk your long-term health going to Turkey for surgery no matter how cheap it is….. it’s CHEAP for a reason.”
Despite the minor on-air hiccup and the controversial segment, Ben Thompson and Sarah Campbell managed to keep the show running smoothly, demonstrating the unpredictability and challenges of live broadcasting.