Jeremy Vine accidentally labels Nicola Bulley's case a 'murder' in on-air error

10 February 2023 , 16:24

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Jeremy Vine accidentally labels Nicola Bulley's case a 'murder' in on-air error

BBC radio presenter Jeremy Vine slipped up as he called the Nicola Bulley missing person case a 'murder' on his BBC Radio 2 show on Friday.

The presenter was discussing the disappearance of the mum of two with reporter Liz Roberts when he made the blunder.

Whilst Nicola has been missing since January 27, Lancashire Police are continuing with their hypothesis that she has ended up in the River Wyre. 

Despite extensive searches of the river, a body has not been recovered and Nicola remains 'missing'.

However, Jeremy Vine referred to the Lancashire mum's disappearance as a 'murder' whilst he discussed the influx of detectives as the nation watches the ongoing investigations.

Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'

Jeremy Vine made the blunder whilst live on air on BBC Radio 2 (JGX/REX/Shutterstock)

Nicola Bulley has been missing since January 27 (Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)

Speaking live on his BBC programme, Jeremy said: "There's also been this issue now, which seems to have got out of hand, of people all around the country trying to solve this murder at home – so-called sleuthing from space because they're using satellite photos and so on.

"I gather some of them have turned up and are looking for clues at an abandoned house."

Jeremy wasn't immediately corrected, even as he continued on and spoke to a close friend of Nicola's Emma White.

Speaking live, she said: "We just need Nikki home for her two beautiful little girls who need their mummy. It's like torture,' adding they have not given up hope she is alive.

The radio presenter referred to Nicola's disappearance as 'a murder' in a live on-air slip up (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"The girls, when they get home from school, ask 'any news on mummy?'' and Paul [Nikki's partner] has to say 'no' and he can see the little girls just deflate. The little girl is saying 'Is my mummy famous?' I didn't quite know how to answer that myself… for the wrong reasons."

She added: "Bring Nikki home, come to the sofa, with the girls, with Willow and you can have that happy story because that's what we're keeping hope for."

Nicola Bulley has been missing since January, with Lancashire Police believing she has fallen into the River Wyre (Nikki Bulley - Mortgage Adviser/Facebook)

Nicola Bulley's family are desperate for answers (strava)

Following the programme, the BBC issued a live statement to correct the reference to murder.

A BBC spokesperson said: "This was a mistaken reference and later within the same item Jeremy clarified by saying: 'In terms of the police investigation, it's still very much a missing persons investigation that they're on at the moment, so we are still hoping'."

Niamh Spence