Jeremy Hunt the Culture Secretary...

[Kirstie]

For the benefit of those who do not listen to the today programme in the morning, and even for those who do, I have the pleasure of reporting the utterance of of the most unfortunate live broadcast 'spoonerisms' seen in quite a while. Instead of saying 'Jeremy Hunt the Culture Secretary', poor old Jim Naughtie got the 'H' of 'Hunt' and the 'C' of 'Culture' mixed up, and then proceeded to have a coughing fit on air. Poor bloke.

The last known incidence of such a gaffe was in 1994 on Midlands Today, where the announcer was attempting to talk about 'cults' in Birmingham, but didn't quite get the word out correctly.

 

[Globalti]

I heard it. Poor old Naughtie had already started the coughing fit I think, hence the H coming out as a C. I bet the news was a relief to him, he probably dashed out for a glass of water.

 

[rich p]

Priceless! Wish I'd heard it.

The Test Match Special commentators are always conscious of calling the head groundsman at Lords, Mick Hunt rather than Mike Hunt.

 

[yello]

I wonder if it was deliberate and a personal opinion!

Only yesterday, when speaking to a neighbour, I referred to a Mr Cox.... his name is actually Mr Dicks!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I only heard the coughing but missed what it was all about - wonder if it'll be on the iplayer?

 

[Norm]

For the benefit of those who do not listen to the today programme in the morning, and even for those who do, I have the pleasure of reporting the utterance of of the most unfortunate live broadcast 'spoonerisms' seen in quite a while. Instead of saying 'Jeremy Hunt the Culture Secretary', poor old Jim Naughtie got the 'H' of 'Hunt' and the 'C' of 'Culture' mixed up, and then proceeded to have a coughing fit on air. Poor bloke.

Ha ha

Was this just before 8 this morning? I got into the car as the pips went and Naughtie was incoherent from coughing.

If so, I'm delighted to say that I was de-frosting the car at the time, so didn't hear it, but the kids were inside so must have caught it's full joyous splendour.

Wish I'd been there too. Thanks for letting us know what happened, Kirstie.

 

[Jezston]

I was in a car for the first time in ages this morning getting a lift from my flatmate - and I heard it!

Absolutely hilarious - the fact he said it was one thing - the fact he was clearly struggling (and failing!) to avoid cracking up afterwards was priceless!

He shouldn't have bothered with the whole "excuse me - coughing fit" thing - we all knew what was going on. Just fess up, have a laugh for a few seconds, get it out of your system and get on with it. We were all there with you

 

[Yellow Fang]

Yes, it was quite amusing. A bit like that scene in Porky's.

 

[661-Pete]

Priceless! Wish I'd heard it.

The Test Match Special commentators are always conscious of calling the head groundsman at Lords, Mick Hunt rather than Mike Hunt.

The only 'safe' rendering of that name is "Michael Hunt". I believe that's what most guys cursedblessed with the name, prefer.

 

[raindog]

here it is - very good too

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1G6osCnsbA&feature=youtu.be

 

[Paulus]

Excellent, One of the best gaffes on radio 4 for a long time.

What will the ladies who read the daily Tory make of it? Expect some rather stuffy letters and comments.

 

[Fnaar]

Fantastic... that was no coughing fit, I reckon... if you listen at the end of the youtube clip, I think he's trying to stifle laughter... but I didn't hear the wider context of the prog... funny, anyway

 

[Hover Fly]

Excellent, One of the best gaffes on radio 4 for a long time.

What will the ladies who read the daily Tory make of it? Expect some rather stuffy letters and comments.

Remember Anna Ford calling one of the Archer characters a "little shoot"?

 

[Jezston]

According to one of my colleagues, at about 9:15am they were discussing the incident and Andrew Marr said it again!

 

[dellzeqq]

brilliant! I imagine Naughtie will get a standing ovation the next time he goes to the theatre.