The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Listen: James Naughtie’s slip of the tongue

The Radio 4 presenter bravely smashes the taboo around the use of the “c-word” on live radio.

By Samira Shackle Published 06 December 2010 10:08

The Today programme's thousands of listeners had an amusing start to the day when James Naughtie tried to introduce "Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary", and ended up calling him . . . something else. Certainly not the kind of language you expect to hear before the, er, 8am watershed.

Luckily, the minister saw the funny side, tweeting: "They say prepare for anything before going on Today but that took the biscuit . . . I was laughing as much as u Jim or shld I say Dr Spooner."

You can listen to it below. Warning: strong language.

UPDATE: Here's Andrew Marr, repeating the mistake just a few hours later.

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9 comments

Mon, 2010-12-06 10:51 — ang (not verified)

Laughed my head off, don't know how he kept it together.
He was right to call him a c**t, after his appalling remarks about Liverpool fans at Hillsborough. Fu****g c**t, more like it.

Mon, 2010-12-06 11:04 — swatantra (not verified)

I bet its not the first time its happened to Hunt. In fact its an occupational hazard to anyone who has the name Hunt Mr Mrs Mz Miss or Master. In this case it was a slip of the tongue. Its worse if people do it deliberately.

Mon, 2010-12-06 13:59 — yuccuplant (not verified)

Brilliant!!

Mon, 2010-12-06 14:36 — Hriday

James Naughtie got it right in the first instance.There was no need for him to correct himself.

Mon, 2010-12-06 15:35 — Hugh Markey (not verified)

This was an accident waiting to happen. Brightened up our morning nevertheless; although not quite in the early hours. On BBC 24 Hours News, shortly after mid-day on BBC 24 Hours a lady television news presenter slipped up when introducing this' broadband' news topic. Instead of 'best service' she made a freudian slip and enunciated 'breast service.' Obviously concentrating too much on referring to the Minister for Culture by his correct tag. A couple of neighbours, suffering from 'cabin fever', and waiting with their hosts for another unfortunate tongue-twister were rewarded.
What has politics come to? The pun ..[look it up]
This government promised to be courageous, adventurous, fearless, pioneering and forward-looking. Risk-averse, no way! Politically correct, no sir! 'Elth & Safty' regs, naw!
Look at the way this government set about winning the World Cup bid. Premier division team despatched. Only problem - they were all nationals! Not to mention that two of them never kicked a round ball in their lives.
Of course Jim Naughtie is a Scot. Well, maybe now he feels like a large Scotch. What did that eternal undergrad, Dr Johnson, have to say about aspirational young Scots. And even more to the point, Rabby Burns. 'The best laid....[ look it up, we did ]
Braveheart

Mon, 2010-12-06 17:27 — jie4v7i14

Freud lives!

Mon, 2010-12-06 17:32 — jie4v7i14

...and anyway, being a Scot, he should have used the "a" vowel instead of "u", if he meant it.

Mon, 2010-12-06 18:36 — swatantra

'Sir, is it not the case that in Scotland they feed oats to the people, whereas we in England feed oats to our horses???' ... or something along those lines, maybe. Johnson said a great many things, some taken out of context of the C18. Nowadays I suppose you could substitute 'students' for 'horses'