BREAKING: BBC stung in King Charles and Queen Camilla blow after losing Commonwealth Games
The King and Queen dealt a blow to the BBC (Image: Getty)
The BBC lost its broadcasting rights for this year’s Commonwealth Games – meaning Clare Balding will not present for the first time in 20 years. And in a further sting to the publicly-funded broadcaster, one of its own inventions was used in the opening sketch, featuring King Charles and Queen Camilla as they arrived at the event in Glasgow.
This year, Channel 5 won the rights to broadcast the games, but in a savage nod to the BBC, the opening ceremony still began with the monarch arriving in Doctor Who’s TARDIS – despite this year’s Christmas special of the sci-fi show being axed by the BBC.
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Fans were loving the incredible moment, which showed Sir Chris Hoy and Scottish actor Greg McHugh operating the TARDIS on a journey around Scotland, phoning “the palace” about ways to get Charles and Camilla to Glasgow from Balmoral.
Charles and Camilla stepped out of the time machine with a cheery wave and crossed the stage to take their seats, to be greeted by Sir Chris.
It shows Charles is more than willing to follow in his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s footsteps, after she famously filmed a sketch with Paddington.
It comes as a blow to the Beeb, though, which has produced Doctor Who for decades, and left some viewers baffled.
The pair emerged from the TARDIS (Image: Getty)
One tweeted: “I don’t get the Tardis for the opening Commonwealth Games ceremony, was that planned for the Pofaced BBC rather than Ch5. All the Englanders of the day will pile into Glasgow.”
Another said: “Whoever had the idea of having the TARDIS at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony… I LOVE YOU.”
While a third posted: “So the TARDIS in Glasgow that got so many wondering what it was all for…was for the Commonwealth Games intro… on Channel 5…”
And a fourth said: “Watching the opening of the Commonwealth Games from Glasgow Scotland. They opened with the most British thing… The Tardis going to pick up their majesties at Balmoral Castle to bring them to the opening ceremony.”
