Mel Giedroyc was forced to apologise on Friday’s Children In Need after cutting off fundraiser winner Brian Pitt over technical issues following backlash from fans.
The presenter, 52, and Stephen Mangan had announced Brian as the winner of the Sir Terry Wogan Fundraiser of the Year award, after raising over £30,000 for the charity for 30 years following his son’s tragic death aged 17.
Setting out to talk about how his late son’s avid support for the charity and how it inspired him to do the same, Brian attempted to talk but cut out every so often so that it was difficult to hear him.
Children In Need 2020: Mel Giedroyc apologised after cutting off fundraiser winner Brian Pitt because of sound issues on Friday’s show following backlash from fans
After Mel and Stephen said he was cutting out, Brian tried to fix the issue and asked if the pair could hear him, and while he was audible to the audience, Mel said he wasn’t and cut him off.
As he tried to speak, she said: ‘I can’t hear you, just very slightly, I’m sorry, so listen we’re going to say tutty byes.’
Brian tried again, asking: ‘Now? Can anybody hear me?’
However Mel cut him off again, saying: ‘No, really not Brian, we’re going to have to say goodbye Brian, but thank you so much.’
Supportive: Brian was the winner of the Sir Terry Wogan Fundraiser of the Year award, after raising over £30,000 for the charity for 30 years following his son’s tragic death aged 17
Issues: Setting out to talk about how his late son’s support for the charity and how it inspired him, Brian attempted to talk but cut out every so often and Mel told him they couldn’t hear
Stephen stepped in and added: ‘Brian listen, on behalf of everybody at Children In Need, thank you for everything you’ve done over the decades, and we will make sure this award gets to you in the next few days.’
Later in the show, Mel apologised to Brian and the audience as she said: ‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t hear Brian earlier, but the good news is our friends at Morning Live are going to speak to him on Monday morning.’
Fans were unhappy with Mel for cutting Brian off, and took to Twitter to share their dismay with BBC and Children In Need for the accident.
Problems: Brian tried to fix the issue and asked if the pair could hear him, and while he was audible to the audience, Mel said he wasn’t and cut him off
Cutting him off: As he tried to speak, she said: ‘I can’t hear you, just very slightly, I’m sorry, so listen we’re going to say tutty byes’, while Stephen thanked him for his years of fundraising
Apology: Later in the show, Mel apologised to Brian and the audience as she said ‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t hear Brian earlier’ and revealed he would appear on Monday’s Morning Live
One person wrote: ‘Anybody watching children in need n fuming at the presenter cutting off BRIAN?????? WE COULD HEAR HIM (sic).’
Another added: ‘Get Brian back on the show. We would all like to hear how & why he’s been inspired to dedicate so much time & effort into raising all that money for Children in Need. I’m sure he’s been looking forward to that that moment for a long time.’
One viewer criticised: ‘Get Brian back!!!! He was so upset at the end that he couldn’t say his bit. He’s been fundraising for years for children in need in memory of his son who dies, he deserves his moment.’
Backlash: Fans were unhappy with Mel for cutting Brian off, and took to Twitter to share their dismay with BBC and Children In Need for the accident
BBC Children in Need exists to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
Since its first major Appeal in 1980 BBC Children in Need has raised over £1 billion, and is currently supporting over 3000 local charities and projects in communities across the UK
These charities help children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.
Good cause: BBC Children in Need exists to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK