BBC Breakfast star insulted as crew member says her head 'looks like a mushroom'

BBC Breakfast star Katherine Downes was told her head "looks like a mushroom" by one of her "rude" colleagues.

The sports presenter, 39, who sometimes stands in for Naga Munchetty, 46, on the morning show, is currently reporting from the Winter Olympics in Beijing - where the present temperature is -2.

Katherine rocked up on this morning's BBC Breakfast via video link wearing a thick black jacket, neon green gloves and a rather fetching striped bobble hat, which Naga quickly complimented her on.

The former Strictly star said: "Impressive bobble hat! How many have you got, and are you all [presenters] having a bobble hat off?"

Katherine with one of her many hats (BBC)

Katherine explained: "Well I went to PyeongChang four years ago with two bobble hats, and that was a mistake. Because it turns out you're on TV every single day and you want a bit of variety!"

"So I've brought seven bobble hats with me out to Beijing. And do you know what - I love them!"

However she then revealed that not everyone was feeling the love, admitting that the sound man had told her that her head "looked like a mushroom" in the hat.

Jon loved Katherine's hat (BBC)

She said: "But my sound man here, Graham, he's very rude about my bobble hat.

"He says it makes me look like my head is the shape of a mushroom. But I'm loving them, it's freezing out here!"

Naga's co-host Jon Kay quickly defended Katherine saying: ""I'm a fan of that one, actually! And unlike [the others] you're not going for the bobble hat and scarf combo? Interesting - just going for it with the bobble hat."

Katherine and Naga (Manchester Evening News)

She's a seasoned journalist (TWITTER)

He then suggested the presenters could "swap bobble hats" before sports presenter Mike Bushell reminded him it "wouldn't be Covid rules".

Keen to move on from the drama, Naga quickly cut to weather presenter Carol Kirwood, segueing seamlessly, announcing: "I tell you what, it's bobble hat weather! Bobble hats, thermals, scarves. Too windy for an umbrella!"

As Storm Dudley continues to cause havoc across the country, Carol joked: "Well, your bobble hat might end up in Stavanger [Norway] if you have it on today!"

BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One