A BBC weatherman has caused a storm after giving a rude gesture live on air.
Tomasz Schafernaker, 31, was about to give the weather forecast on the BBC News Channel when, not realising the camera was on him, he stuck his middle finger up at presenters Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong who were off-camera.
Schafernaker, originally from Poland, was responding to a bit of banter from McCoy, who had just said: 'Now we will have the weather forecast in a minute and of course it will be 100 per cent accurate and provide all the detail you can possibly want. I've just seen Tom Schafernaker preparing for it.'
When he realised his gesture had been broadcast live to millions he tried to disguise the gesture by scratching his chin.
It's not the first time Schafernaker has found himself in hot water. He was also forced to apologise in 2007 after referring to the Outer Hebrides in the Western Isles of Scotland as 'nowheresville.'
Whoops! BBC weatherman causes a storm after making rude gesture live on air
By Daily Mail Reporter
18th August 2010
Daily Mail
Here is the forecast: An outbreak of offensive gestures, followed by severe embarrassment, with the possibility of thunderous words from the boss.
BBC News Channel viewers saw weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker brazenly sticking his middle finger up at breakfast show presenters Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong, who were off-camera.
Prior to the gaffe, caught live on BBC News 24, anchor McCoy seemed to gently poke fun at Schafernaker by saying: 'Now we will have the weather forecast in a minute and of course it will be 100 per cent accurate and provide all the detail you can possibly want.
Stormy times ahead: Tomasz Schafernaker makes a rude gesture to his off-camera colleagues
... before realising he has been caught on live TV
'I've just seen Tom Schafernaker preparing for it.'
At this point, the camera pans to the Polish-born weatherman, who reacted to the sarcastic tone by sticking his middle finger up before suddenly realising he is on camera.
He then proceeds to try to disguise the blunder by scratching his chin.
A gasp can be heard before McCoy quips: 'There's always one mistake. That was it.'
This is not the first time Schafernaker, 31, has found himself in hot water.
Amused: Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong try to hide their shock at Schafernaker's gesture
Last year he stumbled over his words and forecast a 'muddy sh*te' for the Glastonbury festival. He had meant to say 'muddy site.'
He was also forced to apologise in 2007 after referring to the Outer Hebrides in the Western Isles of Scotland as 'nowheresville.'
In May 2008 a clearly unimpressed Schafernaker tore his earpiece out after proclaiming 'Well I don't know if I'm on air or not so Gary over to you.'
Recovery: Schafernaker gets back to work after his on-air gaffe
A BBC spokesman said: 'Tomasz was not aware that he was on air, and whilst the gesture was only shown for a second, it was not acceptable.
'The News Channel presenter live in the studio acknowledged a mistake had been made, and we apologise for any offence caused.'
Ed Taylor, a spokesperson for Ofcom, said there had been no complaints about the incident.
dailymail.co.uk
Tomasz Schafernaker, 31, was about to give the weather forecast on the BBC News Channel when, not realising the camera was on him, he stuck his middle finger up at presenters Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong who were off-camera.
Schafernaker, originally from Poland, was responding to a bit of banter from McCoy, who had just said: 'Now we will have the weather forecast in a minute and of course it will be 100 per cent accurate and provide all the detail you can possibly want. I've just seen Tom Schafernaker preparing for it.'
When he realised his gesture had been broadcast live to millions he tried to disguise the gesture by scratching his chin.
It's not the first time Schafernaker has found himself in hot water. He was also forced to apologise in 2007 after referring to the Outer Hebrides in the Western Isles of Scotland as 'nowheresville.'
Whoops! BBC weatherman causes a storm after making rude gesture live on air
By Daily Mail Reporter
18th August 2010
Daily Mail
Here is the forecast: An outbreak of offensive gestures, followed by severe embarrassment, with the possibility of thunderous words from the boss.
BBC News Channel viewers saw weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker brazenly sticking his middle finger up at breakfast show presenters Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong, who were off-camera.
Prior to the gaffe, caught live on BBC News 24, anchor McCoy seemed to gently poke fun at Schafernaker by saying: 'Now we will have the weather forecast in a minute and of course it will be 100 per cent accurate and provide all the detail you can possibly want.
Stormy times ahead: Tomasz Schafernaker makes a rude gesture to his off-camera colleagues
... before realising he has been caught on live TV
'I've just seen Tom Schafernaker preparing for it.'
At this point, the camera pans to the Polish-born weatherman, who reacted to the sarcastic tone by sticking his middle finger up before suddenly realising he is on camera.
He then proceeds to try to disguise the blunder by scratching his chin.
A gasp can be heard before McCoy quips: 'There's always one mistake. That was it.'
This is not the first time Schafernaker, 31, has found himself in hot water.
Amused: Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong try to hide their shock at Schafernaker's gesture
Last year he stumbled over his words and forecast a 'muddy sh*te' for the Glastonbury festival. He had meant to say 'muddy site.'
He was also forced to apologise in 2007 after referring to the Outer Hebrides in the Western Isles of Scotland as 'nowheresville.'
In May 2008 a clearly unimpressed Schafernaker tore his earpiece out after proclaiming 'Well I don't know if I'm on air or not so Gary over to you.'
Recovery: Schafernaker gets back to work after his on-air gaffe
A BBC spokesman said: 'Tomasz was not aware that he was on air, and whilst the gesture was only shown for a second, it was not acceptable.
'The News Channel presenter live in the studio acknowledged a mistake had been made, and we apologise for any offence caused.'
Ed Taylor, a spokesperson for Ofcom, said there had been no complaints about the incident.
dailymail.co.uk
