Newsreader Maryam Moshiri had to “give up” broadcasting after struggling with a bad cough on a recent instalment of BBC News.
The 46-year-old appeared on the programme in a black textured blouse to deliver the latest headlines when she started having a “coughing fit” live on-air.
Ahead of the cough intensifying, she shared an update on Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s High Court ruling, adding: “During the hearing, Mr Assange’s lawyer said US promises, given so far, were inadequate…”
However, seasoned newsreader Maryam started to cough violently and had to keep covering her mouth as it worsened during the report.
Maryam kept saying to BBC viewers watching at home “excuse me” as she tried to battle on reading the teleprompter.
After a few short moments, producers cut to a clip from outside the Royal Courts of Justice about Mr Assange’s fresh appeal against his extradition to the US.
Following her latest blip, she took to Twitter to explain the situation and thanked her director for stepping in. She penned: “When you get that horrible tickly throat and coughing fit – but you are broadcasting! Had to give up after a bit! Thanks to director Sarah for going to the clip early for me!”
Maryam also shared a clip of her on-air coughing fit on Twitter, with her followers commenting on the incident below and sharing words of support.
One person said: “My sympathies! I have been coughing like that for weeks now – only I can just cut and edit my YouTube videos.”
A user called Dan wrote: “You stayed perfectly cool though, Maryam!”
David asked her: “I always feel sorry when this happens to news presenters. Is there a reason why reporters don’t seem to be allowed to have a glass of water on the desk? (Or is one hidden underneath?!)”
The BBC presenter replied, explaining: “No I did have one: but this was stronger than any glass of water. It was one of those coughs that gets worse as you try to ignore it.”
Maryam has suffered a few blunders over the past six months, with the most notable one being her memorable New Year’s Eve countdown which saw her flip the bird at the cameras.
She said in a Twitter apology at the time: “When we got to one, I turned my finger around as a joke and did not realise that this would be caught on camera. It was a private joke with the team and I’m so sorry it went out on air!”
The journalist was recently caught off-guard during Eurovision Song Contest 2024 coverage as she was fiddling with her hair without realising she was live on-air.