ITV News' Nina Hossain caught up in massive Jeremy Hunt name blunder

07 March 2024 , 13:53

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ITV News' Nina Hossain caught up in massive Jeremy Hunt name blunder

ITV News has been embroiled in a major blunder over Jeremy Hunt's name.

Broadcaster Nadia Hossain was chatting to a correspondent who was out in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, following the news that serving MP Michelle Donelan had accused an academic of supporting Hamas. It was understood that taxpayers covered the sum paid to Professor Kate Sang after the Science secretary paid her an undisclosed sum. But during the latest instalment of the news programme on Thursday, Nina accidentally mispronounced Mr Hunt's name.

"Harry, to the other big political story if we can turn our attention to that," Nina said, before continuing: "The Labour leader is the latest to criticise the government for using taxpayers' money to compensate for a minister's mistake after the Science Secretary Michelle Donelan falsely accused an academic of supporting Hamas."

Nina Hossain quickly corrected herself (ITV)

"You spoke to Mr C**t," she said, before correcting herself saying: "Mr Hunt, how did he respond to calls for her to resign?" Viewers have since taken to X, formerly known as Twitter after catching the blunder live on air.

"Watching BBC Lunchtime news. Could barely believe my eyes & ears when Nina Hussain accidentally referred to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt as Mr C**t. A Freudian slip maybe? Fair play to Nina, she styled it out well [sic]," said one. A second added: "No. I think you were right the first time (again)."

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"Nina Hossain just referred to Jeremy Hunt as Mr C**t on the lunchtime ITV News. If it walks like a duck," tweeted a third. A fourth penned: "Just watched ITV lunchtime news, and the newsreader handing over to a Correspondent, calling Jeremy Hunt, Mr C**t before correcting herself."

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt became the target of a viral social media outburst following Nina's mispronunciation (PA)

The discussion came after a series of figures called for Donelan to resign for her error after it was discovered there was "no evidence" that Prof Sang was a supporter of Hamas. The undisclosed fee was handed over in a bid to reduce potential legal costs. "Having the taxpayer shell out for Michelle Donelan’s damages and legal costs is nothing short of a national scandal," said Liberal Democrats' Daisy Cooper. She added: "We need urgent answers from the government but above all, Donelan must pay for this out of her own pocket. The actions she took were clearly outside and beyond her ministerial brief."

But this wasn't the only blunder on the ITV lunchtime news. During one piece to camera filmed in West London, discussing the 15 per cent losses made by ITV over the past year. During a live broadcast, a school child walked past the camera and yelled: "F**k her right in the p***y," leaving the news anchor completely stunned. "I do apologise for that," she said.

Daniel Bird