BBC presenter Naga Munchetty divides viewers with 'frog joke' during interview on French negotiations

BBC presenter Naga Munchetty set social media alight today when she appeared to crack a questionable joke about “those frogs” during a TV discussion about the visit of President Macron.

Viewers were divided on whether she deliberately used the insulting British nickname for the French or was an innocent victim of a slip of the tongue.

It happened after top Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, lost his voice during an interview on BBC Breakfast about Anglo-French relations and the extra £45 million being offered by Premier Theresa May towards French border security.

After the MP struggled to the end with a raspy voice, co-presenter Charlie Stayt thanked him and urged him to “get a glass of water to help your throat”.

Ms Munchetty then offered in a deadpan tone: “Always annoying when those frogs appear at the most inopportune times.”

Video of the exchange was soon appearing on social media. Twitter user Rob Penryn explained: “loving Naga’s response to the MP taking about President Macron’s visit, who had a nasty tickle ‘always annoying when a frog turns up’. Magic!”

Fellow tweeter The Mystery Man commented: “I was amazed that Naga Munchetty cracked an amazing Joke following a discussion on French negotiations ... Total respect to you Naga.”

But another user commented: “Really did Naga Munchetty just make a racist remark talking about frogs in throat after an item on French talks with UK? Not good enough.”

BBC colleagues dismissed the claims, saying Ms Munchetty did not make a deliberate joke.

Ms Munchetty, 42, began her career at the Evening Standard and is now one of the BBC’s star presenters whose hobbies include playing jazz trumpet and mixing cocktails. She is also a classical pianist and plays golf with a handicap of nine.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Our guest appeared to be struggling with a croaky voice and Naga was simply referring to that."