Red-faced Gethin Jones forced to step in as Morning Live interview is halted by technical issues
MORNING Live was plunged into chaos this week when technical problems hit the BBC daytime show before an interview with two Strictly Come Dancing stars.
Host Gethin Jones was forced to fill the air when a video link went down on Wednesday, just as he and co-host Michelle Acklerley were due to Jamie Borthwick and his pro partner, Michelle Tsiakkas.
Gremlins in the system meant the dancing pair failed to appear on screen, leaving Gethin red faced while bosses scrambled to fix the technical difficulties.
Gethin asked, “Are you there?” but when they didn’t appear, he quickly improvised and kept the show moving.
The likeable host explained to viewers, “They’ve been running around rehearsal rooms all morning, and now they are trying to find WiFi to speak to us.”
Ever the professional, Gethin then expertly navigated to a piece to the camera to fill the silence, asking the panel for advice about norovirus.
He linked the piece to the upcoming interview, saying that the couple would need to keep in tip-top health as they prepared for Saturday’s show.
Eventually, Jamie and his dancing partner got back online, and Jamie quipped: “It’s going to be one of those days… “
However, the actor got straight into the questioning as he shared some insights into their routine. Jamie revealed that the key to the couple’s on-screen magic is that “they laugh every day and enjoy moments.”
He explained: “I’m here to enjoy myself. I have a fantastic partner, and we laugh every day. The people on this show are fantastic, and I’m trying 100%.”
‘The whole competition is 13 weeks, and I could dance for 13 years and I’ve never been good at these, so I’m trying and enjoying myself.”
He then admitted: “I don’t really know how we got here…”
The screen froze again, prompting Michelle to exclaim: ‘Oh no!’
Gethin came to the rescue again, saying: “While we try to get them back, take a look at some behind-the-scenes clips that prove how hard he is working.”
During those few seconds when they were interrupted, Gethin slickly revealed how much Jamie loved the rumba, at which point the couple was back on air.
Michelle quipped: “I don’t know any male celebrity in the history of Strictly who has loved the rumba so much.”
Jamie agreed, saying: “Yeah, I just love it. After this, I am gonna take rumba classes and find championships, and if I can’t find one, I will make my own one.”