BBC News anchor apologises for flashing middle finger during live broadcast

A BBC News anchor has apologised for a "private joke" during a live news broadcast.

On December 6, a video surfaced on the internet where anchor Maryam Moshiri was seen flashing her middle finger as the live news broadcast was about to start.

However, the anchor now has made a public apology and explanation for the unintended gesture through a note on X.

Maryam Moshiri wrote, “When we got to 1 I turned finger around as a joke and did not realise that this would be caught on camera.”

“It was a private joke with the team and I’m so sorry it went out on air! It was not my intention for this to happen and I’m sorry if I offended or upset anyone. I wasn’t ‘flipping the bird’ at viewers or even a person really,” she continued. 

She further quoted that as a “silly joke” and meant to amuse a “small number of my mates.”