Channel 4 forced to apologise over explicit slip live on air
Matt Frei reported on the solar eclipse that captivated Europe (Image: Channel 4)
Europe Editor and presenter Matt Frei was forced to apologise on Wednesday night, following a live blunder on Channel 4 News. Reporting on the solar eclipse that’s been dubbed a ‘once-in-a-generation’ phenomenon, Frei spoke with guests Kristin, Ally, Chris and Andrea, who were patiently awaiting the full eclipse in Spain.
“We’ve got some friends on the boat off the coast of Barcelona, to be precise,” the TV star told viewers. As the group described the scene as “surreal,” with the sky turning “completely dark,” one member of the quartet got a little bit too excited live on air. “Oh s**t!” he quipped as the full eclipse took place.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time.
The presenter spoke with a group who were waiting for the total eclipse off the coast of Barcelona (Image: Channel 4)
Following the incident, Frei was forced to apologise to viewers. “I gather there was some swearing and I didn’t hear it, but I apologise to our more sensitive viewers for that,” the journalist said.
A spectacle that left millions of Brits captivated, the solar eclipse reached its totality in the UK at 7.10pm last night. A momentous event, for the first time since 1999, a partial solar eclipse was visible in the UK, with more than 90% of the sun obscured by the moon in certain regions.
Frei apologised to viewers after the programme accidentally aired the expletive (Image: Channel 4)
While Brits were treated to a partial eclipse, Greenland, Iceland and Spain enjoyed a total eclipse, with the moon completely covering the sun.
Across the UK, some lucky spectators did manage to catch a glimpse of the spectacle, however, that wasn’t the case for everyone. Posting on X, others shared their disappointment, calling the eclipse “underwhelming”.
“The eclipse from the UK was so underwhelming idk about you guys but in my area it was still way too sunny to tell,” tweeted one. “Unless you had those special glasses the #eclipse in the UK was all a bit meh,” agreed a second. Meanwhile, a third mused: “They talked up that eclipse a bit too much in the UK didn’t they. It was very underwhelming compared to 1999.”
