SLIT OF THE TONGUE

Last Saturday night Stephen Fry told a story about Diana Dors, whose original name was Diana Fluck. At a function in her home town of Swindon the MC was terrified he would bungle her name and commit an embarrassing faux pas. He called her Diana Clunt.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Tony Shaw during the 3AW pre-game:

"North have a good list of youngsters. I particularly like Ben Cuntington. Cuntington will be a fine player. See! I told you I would say it right."

Astonishingly, Tony was completely unaware he had it back to front. He eventually realised his mistake and apologized, sort of, but not before a volley of jibes and sniggers from the other commentators gave it extra publicity. Any listener who had missed the original was left in no doubt as to the nature of Tony's howler. It was up to Caroline Wilson to tell the commentary box to stop behaving like children, shut up, and get on with it.

Comments

[Professor Rosseforp]

Ben CuntingSON, Ben CuntingSON -- he rehearsed it so many times!

[TimT]

Once I was discussing mistakes and slip ups by media presenters at work. Someone was asking me, 'yeah, but how can it happen', ie, how do professional presenters make these obvious mistakes?

'Oh, it's easy', I said. 'You just say something like stunning c*nt and you get the words mixed up...'

As soon as the phrase was out of my mouth I realised what I'd done. Er, case in point?

[TimT]

We have an open plan office at work I should point out. And I said it in a rather loud voice. Not unusually loud, but... loud enough.

[Marshall Stacks]

we're getting a lot of stunning cant from pollies just lately Tim. Is that what you mean?

[Marshall Stacks]

we're getting some stunning cant from politicians lately Tim, is that what you meant?

[Lou]

One of the doyens of English news presenting, Sir Trevor McDonald once said 'cunt Kentryside' in a bulletin. All he did was widen his eyes for a moment when he realised what he has said, did not repeat it properly, then went on as normal.

Very impressive as there must have been loads of people after it who didn't believe he'd actually done it as he was so smooth in the transition.

ITN keep the tape to show newbies.