A BBC presenter has expressed regret after inadvertently making an offensive gesture during the opening moments of a live broadcast. Maryam Moshiri, a prominent news anchor, was caught on camera raising her middle finger at the start of a noon bulletin, following the programme’s signature countdown sequence.

The incident occurred on Wednesday when Moshiri, playfully engaging with her production team, raised her middle finger as part of what she later described as a “private joke.” Unaware that the cameras were already rolling, she quickly composed herself and proceeded to deliver the day’s headlines, including updates on Boris Johnson’s Covid inquiry appearance, with her usual professionalism.

Taking to X on Thursday, Moshiri clarified the context of the gesture, explaining it was part of a lighthearted moment with colleagues. “I was messing around, pretending to count down with my fingers, and flipped my finger as a joke, not realizing it would be broadcast,” she wrote. “It was meant for a few friends in the team, and I’m truly sorry if it upset anyone. It wasn’t directed at viewers or anyone specific.” She punctuated her apology with a facepalm emoji, underscoring her embarrassment.

Public reaction was mixed. Some X users criticized the act as unprofessional, with a few even renewing calls to defund the BBC. However, many others rallied behind Moshiri, finding the blunder humorous. One supporter cheekily commented, “As a BBC licence fee payer, I’d love to see more of this!”

The incident joins a list of memorable BBC on-air mishaps. In 2010, weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker made headlines when he jokingly gestured at a colleague, only to realize he was live and awkwardly tried to pass it off as a chin scratch—a moment that has since become a viral favorite. Other notable errors include a 2006 mix-up where job applicant Guy Goma was mistaken for an IT expert and interviewed live, and a 2016 BBC Breakfast segment that accidentally aired gorilla footage while announcing an interview with former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The Moshiri clip’s rapid spread online, reaching as far as Australia, sparked curiosity about its origins. Robert Coxwell, a photographer and journalist who identified himself as the show’s gallery producer, revealed on X that the clip was pulled from the BBC’s internal archive system, Autorot. He noted that the system logs user activity, hinting that the person who shared the clip could be identified. “Someone accessed the system, clipped it, and sent it out,” Coxwell wrote, adding with a touch of humor, “Christmas might come early for someone!”

Moshiri’s swift apology and the public’s largely forgiving response suggest this gaffe, while embarrassing, is unlikely to overshadow her career. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of live television, where even a fleeting moment can capture global attention.