In a surprising on-air moment, BBC news anchor Maryam Moshiri inadvertently flashed the middle finger as she began a live news bulletin, leaving viewers and social media buzzing. The incident occurred at the start of Wednesday's midday news broadcast.

Caught off guard, Ms Moshiri quickly withdrew her hand, proceeding to read the headlines and introduce the news segment with the signature, "Live from London, this is BBC News." One notable headline covered Britain's former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, apologizing for the impact of the initial pandemic.

The clip of the unexpected gesture quickly went viral, prompting the presenter to issue an apology on social media. She clarified that the gesture was part of a light-hearted countdown joke with her team just before going live. She expressed regret over the unintended on-air mishap and emphasized that it was not her intention to offend or upset anyone.

BBC - Presenter swearing at licence taxpayers. Saw a photo of this yesterday & assumed it was photoshopped. But no. It's the BBC swearing at us🖕 pic.twitter.com/zxUpGLwr2d
— 🇬🇧RonEnglish🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@RonEng1ish) December 7, 2023

The incident is not the first time Moshiri has found herself in an unscripted moment on air. Last September, she creatively described a rare blue supermoon using hand gestures when a corresponding image failed to appear on screen.

Maryam Moshiri, a long-time business reporter for BBC News, was part of a new lineup of presenters announced in February. She took over The Daily Global program in July and continues to anchor for the network.

This recent on-air incident adds an unexpected chapter to Moshiri's broadcasting career, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of live television. The BBC, currently undergoing significant changes as part of a "digital-first" strategy, has not officially commented on the incident.

As the incident unfolds on social media, public reactions vary, with some finding humor in the situation, while others debate the boundaries of on-air behavior. Moshiri's apology has been met with mixed responses, with some accepting it as a genuine mistake during a light-hearted moment.

The incident raises questions about media ethics, public figures' behavior, and the challenges of live broadcasting in the age of digital scrutiny. The BBC's recent strategy changes and cost-saving measures provide a broader context for evaluating how such incidents are handled within the evolving landscape of broadcast journalism.