Five corpsing on air moments
Updated on 28 March 2008
After BBC Radio 4's Charlotte Green's uncontrollable laughter on the Today programme, we look at five other on-air corpsing gems.
Corpsing, or breaking into uncontrollable laughter at exactly the wrong moment, is a hazard of broadcasting and performance. Wherever there's a camera or an audience, there's the risk of hysterics and hiccups. Here are five moments when the giggles got the better or some of our most seasoned public speakers.
1. Brian Johnston's legendary cricket commentary
Brian Johnston was famed for his verbal gaffes. One of the most famous took place when the England team included batsman Peter Willey and bowler Michael Holding.
As the hush fell in anticipation of a new over, Johnston gave a quick recap: "The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey." See some of Brian Johnston's best bits here.
And later, Jonathan Agnew proved himself a worthy contender to the throne of cricket commentary in 1991 when he commented on Botham's failure to hurdle his stumps: "just didn't quite get his leg over," Agnew said, reducing Johnston to fits of laughter and wheezing.
Listen
Click on the image below to listen to the hysterics.
2. Seeing the funny side of Paxman's pants
This Morning presenters Philip Schofield and Fern Britton doubled over with laughter when introducing the show earlier this year. They got onto the interesting subject of Jeremy Paxman's discontent with his Marks and Spencer's underpants and the rest is one long giggle.
Watch
Click on the image below to watch their fits of laughter.
3. Marsh's funny fireworks
And in November 2006 BBC Radio 2 newsreader John Marsh saw the funny side of one unusual item during the news bulletin. The item, which involved an unconventional use for a firework, left Marsh corpsing helplessly into the next item on Pakistan.
Listen
Click on the image below to listen to the giggles.
4. Gosling's memory fails her...
BBC News 24 Announcer Gaffe Joanna Gosling's memory is not what it should be. Upon introducing her co-reader, her mind goes blank. He takes it well, but she is unable to stop laughing as he presents the next item.
Watch
Click on the image below to watch an uncomforable broadcasting moment.
5. Corpsing in the Commons
And it's not just thespians and broadcasters that get caught out. Luckily for one MP, his hysterics during a speech on Short Sea Shipping was delivered to a somewhat empty Commons. Unfortunately, the cameras were rolling...
Watch
Click on the image below to watch the Commons crack up.
