A Cabinet minister's interview on national radio was interrupted repeatedly as someone tried to call him over Skype.
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma was being interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme to discuss the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.
However, the interview with Martha Kearney was interrupted three times by a ringtone heard in the background.
Presenter Nick Robinson identified the cause of the interruption as a Skype ringtone and said it may have been a rival broadcaster trying to get hold of the Business Secretary for an interview.
Mr Sharma was speaking about UK Covid-19 updates when the first call came in with Ms Kearney saying: “Sorry about that noise, I hope it’s coming from your end rather than our end.
“Sounds a bit like an alarm you have got going off.”
Mr Sharma apologised and said “I think we have managed to fix it” – only for two further interruptions to occur during the interview.
Afterwards, Ms Kearney said “I think we are all curious about what that alarm was for” but Mr Sharma said it was “another programme” before he was cut off.
Mr Robinson said today: “I think what he was going to say is that it was a television producer saying ‘you are supposed to be on the telly, Business Secretary’.”
The presenter said it was the sound of the Skype ringtone.
