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Royal Baby: BBC reporter Nicholas Witchell explains his live TV Baby Sussex ‘brain freeze’

Nicholas Witchell said he ‘lost his train of thought’ during the television broadcast. (BBC)
Nicholas Witchell said he ‘lost his train of thought’ during the television broadcast. (BBC)

Veteran BBC reporter Nicholas Witchell said he “wanted the ground to open and swallow me up” after he stumbled over his words during a live television broadcast discussing the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby.

The established broadcaster, 65, said he had a ‘brain freeze’ when he was talking about the royal baby on the News at Ten on Monday.

The reporter said to the Daily Mail: “I’d memorised, as you do, one minute twenty [seconds] which was supposed to be the duration of the item, and just lost my train of thought.

“It was one of those moments when I wanted the ground to open and swallow me up. It was extremely embarrassing…it was a brain freeze, like for an actor on stage.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose for a photo with their newborn baby. (GETTY)
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose for a photo with their newborn baby. (GETTY)

During the broadcast when Mr Witchell lost his words, he said: “Now what of their son, Baby Sussex, no name for him so far. The first Anglo-American birth in the British royal family, uh, now we know, of course, that uh…Excuse me, just let me just collect my thoughts.”

The journalist helped him out by saying: “The first Anglo-American birth in the British royal family, and it is… it is certain, of course…I’m so sorry, let me just once again, uh, hand back to you, Ben.”

Mr Witchell’s broadcasting error sparked an array of comments across social media platforms.

Sky News anchor Kay Burley came to his defence by saying: “For those who think they can do a better job than the supreme professional #nickwitchell, I’d like to see you try.

“Doctors bury their mistakes, lawyers jail theirs and TV journalists broadcast theirs. Get off his case and get on with your day.”

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The programme’s editor, Paul Royall, said: “For those asking about Nick Witchell, he’s absolutely fine.

“Highly unusually for Nick he lost his train of thought and decided to hand back to the studio.

“This can happen sometimes even to the most experienced and respected in busy live news broadcasting.”

His BBC colleague Jeremy Bowen said: “I’ve seen some snide comments about Nick Witchell.

“Please stop, they’re not deserved.

“He’s a respected and experienced broadcaster, doing his job.

“I don’t know what happened tonight but it’s certainly no reason to be nasty.”