Some said it was just the news bulletin we needed in the UK after a couple of months of terror attacks, an inconclusive general election and a feeling that the country was struggling to cope with the pace of events. On Tuesday night Huw Edwards opened the BBC’s flagship News at Ten with a stunning few minutes of mesmerising live on-air silence.
Watching Huw Edwards do nothing on BBC news is kinda absorbing, like a lava lamp
— Ian Ford (@ij_ford) June 20, 2017
This is the best news at 10 ever!!#bbcnews
— Basil 🌹🌹🌹 (@flipsache) June 20, 2017
I'm Huw Edwards and I'm gonna pull a few faces in silence for a while
Even Huw Edwards has given up tonight. Look at that face of disappointment. pic.twitter.com/1FqyQjgGe9
— Jono Read (@jonoread) June 20, 2017
BBC headquarters right now #bbcnewsten pic.twitter.com/UatJL0RBBA
— Joanne the Scammer (@KnightDamian) June 20, 2017
People couldn’t help making political jokes based on the error.
"Huw Edwards" spends two minutes to find something positive to say about Theresa May and her Team and can't find anything resume broadcast
— therese o'hanlon (@thereselite) June 20, 2017
For others, it reminded them of the famous scene in the movie Network, when the newscaster Howard Beale shouts: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this any more!”
Huw Edwards is mad as hell, and not going to take it anymore... silently.pic.twitter.com/RY8B0P5c7A
— Julian Power (@JueRobWilPo) June 20, 2017
It recalled some famous BBC News on-screen accidents of old.
That Huw Edwards bit reminds me of when the BBC's Simon McCoy mistook a ream of paper for an I-pad 😂pic.twitter.com/Mi9UsA28X0
— Alexander Saunders ن (@alexsau1991) June 20, 2017
Like this, was it? https://t.co/GMQOcBW4ou xx
— BigWatchLover (@BigWatchLover) June 20, 2017
The bulletin’s editor, Paul Royall, explained on social media that it was caused by a technical crash seconds before the show started, and praised the way Edwards coped with it.
FYI technical system crash seconds before 10. Director had to switch to a back-up system ASAP. @huwbbc doing great job #BBCNewsTen
— Paul Royall (@paulroyall) June 20, 2017
At least, after the disastrous transmission, Edwards could see the funny side, retweeting this from the @HuwsAtTen parody account.
Still better than ITV 😉 pic.twitter.com/b3hh8dBTTM
— Huws At Ten (@HuwsAtTen) June 20, 2017
And that beer at the end of the night was well deserved.
I think I'm going to enjoy this little beauty after that Ten. Iechyd da! #bbcnewsten @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/FuU8zN6r5M
— Huw Edwards (@huwbbc) June 20, 2017
