BBC Breakfast presenter Rachel Burden was forced to reveal she's broken her ankle after taking some slack from viewers for wearing a pair of “dirty” trainers on air.
The injured host came clean about her injury and insisted her choice of footwear was to help alleviate the swelling and pain.
Rachel, who usually presents 5Live’s breakfast show, teamed the white shoes with a posh red dress on Saturday’s show.
Her choice of trendy trainers led to a string of comments from bemused viewers who wondered if it was a fashion statement.
However, Rachel was quick to put her critics in their places.
"On account of a slightly broken ankle (on account of a walking football injury, on account of running and not walking),” she revealed.
One viewer enquired: "You could ask why Rachel has a pair of dirty old trainers on. She may need some trainer cleaner."
Another viewer said: "What’s with BBC Breakfast TV having a key anchor in her trainers?"
A third slammed: "Rachel on the sofa this morning looks like she’s been pulled through an edge backwards.“
"Don’t think much of the dirty old trainers either. Sort yourself out."
And the comments didn’t stop there as viewers were hungry to have their say.
“Is Rachel trying to be quirky by wearing white trainers with a nice dress or has she got a drink problem? #bbcbreakfast,” joked one BBC viewer.
A view echoed by one unhappy fan, who stressed: “Not a good look those trainers this morning!!”
Rachel, 46, explained how she had busted her ankle to her 10,200 Instagram followers.
'Morning - I've got a broken ankle," revealed Rachel. "I turned my ankle doing not-really-walking football and managed to chip a bit of ankle bone off,” admitted Rachel, posting a picture of her foot in a medical boot.
The TV star added: "Well this is me for the next 6 weeks. Out for the rest of the season. But back at work on Monday.
“Thanks to the staff at #wythenshawehospital working under constant pressure at the moment. Next step, pedicure…”
She added on Instagram: “Morning. We’ve ditched the grown-up shoes today. Bad idea with a slightly broken ankle.
“And I got caught kicking them off on the sofa. So I scrubbed up the daughter’s air force. Happy Friday to you all @bbcbreakfast.”
She also explained how she had tried to sit on the couch in heels for some broadcasts as she stands in for Naga Munchetty alongside host Charlie Stayt.
She added in a post to her 81,400 Twitter fans: “Good morning from the @BBCBreakfast studio. Managed to squeeze the puffy ankle into grown up shoes this morning (for visual effect only, won’t actually be walking in these.)
“Charlie disappointed I’m not sporting the stylish big boot.”
However, it was not all criticism for Rachel’s laidback look, with some viewers revelling in the presenter’s unusual look.
Others also noticed and liked the combo.
“Loving the skirt and trainers combo!” gushed one fan.
5Live presenter Steve Crossman said: “Oh yes @rachelburden absolutely ROCKING some Nike Air Force 1s on Breakfast. Magnificent.”
And one fan wished Rachel well with her recovery.
“Hope it’s [your ankle] feeling better, the trainers are fantastic regardless!”
Another fan replied to a Tweet slamming the presenter: “Fair play to her. Why should she have to wear heels if she doesn't want to.
“So outdated, like all the male presenters in suits and ties.”
