Charlie Stayt issued an on-air apology after BBC Breakfast cut the weather forecast short to cover a developing story.
Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty hosted BBC Breakfast on Thursday morning(Image: BBC)
BBC audiences received an important update as the programme began.
During Thursday’s (May 14) edition of BBC Breakfast, presenter Charlie Stayt transitioned to correspondent Henry Zeffman, briefing viewers on the latest political developments.
Addressing speculation about whether Wes Streeting might challenge current Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, he also raised another scenario.
Broadcasting from outside Downing Street, Henry announced: “Let me bring you some breaking news that has just broken in the last few minutes, Charlie, which is another potential contender.
“Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister, has now settled the tax issue with HMRC, which led to her departure as Deputy Prime Minister from government just a few months ago.”
“That is incredibly good timing for her, according to The Guardian and ITV, to whom she has given an interview, Angela Rayner has paid the outstanding amount of stamp duty, but was not required to pay a penalty.
“That could well mean that Angela Rayner has swayed just some of the concerns that some Labour MPS had about potentially backing a leadership bid by her.
“Just one early massive development in what could be a day here in Westminster of many such developments.”
Later in the programme, Sarah Keith-Lucas was preparing to deliver the weather forecast when Charlie suddenly interrupted her. He stated: “My apologise, we’re going straight to Downing Street, Henry is there for us now.”
Yet as he interviewed Chancellor Rachel Reeves regarding the latest economic figures, viewers were left seething at the interruption and wasted no time venting their frustration on social media, reports the Mirror.
One disgruntled viewer wrote: “No need to cut off the weather while he does his piece to camera #bbcbreakfast Nothing to see yet!” A second complained: “BBCBreakfast why have you cut off the weather for this sh**e ? #bbcbreakfast”
A third chimed in with: “I’m more interested in the weather ffs.” While another posted: “What was the point of that hes still repeating himself Put the weather on #BBCBreakfast.”
Further displeasure was voiced by one viewer who wrote: “How rude Charlie, was looking forward to the weather #bbcbreakfast.” With yet another adding: “I’d rather hear about the weather than speculation from Downing Street.”
Upon returning to Sarah, Charlie offered his apologies, stating: “Let me officially apologise, things are a little unpredictable at the moment and we weren’t entirety in control of when the Chancellor would walk out of Downing Street, it happened, I apologise for the interruption, it’s all yours!”
BBC Breakfast is available to watch on BBC One weekdays from 6am
