Former Irish rugby union player turned TV presenter Tommy Bowe was left red-faced on Wednesday after he made a rather awkward gaffe on live television.
Bowe, who now works as a presenter on Ireland AM, was compared to Alan Partridge and David Brent after his co-host Clare McKenna started to introduce their next guest of the episode – writer Séamas O’Reilly, who was there to promote his memoir.
“Author Séamas O’Reilly was just five years old when he and his ten siblings,” started McKenn, but Bowe was stunned by the fact that O’Reilly had so many siblings and in a shocked, high-pitched tone said: “ten siblings?!”
After the interruption McKenna finished her sentence by adding: “sadly lost their mum.” Realising that he had just trivialised a very serious subject, Bowe let out a disappointed noise that we can best describe as an embarrassed sigh.
Unfortunately for Bowe, this didn’t go unnoticed and soon went viral on Irish Twitter.
Proper David Brent stuff from Tommy Bowe here pic.twitter.com/V1KmiEeHDL
— Rudi Kinsella (@RudiKinsella) August 11, 2021
What is that noise @TommyBowe makes during his @AccidentalP moment. @ShaneWilliams11 #Rugby pic.twitter.com/NiCeYqDYgN
— John Carrigan (@CarrigJB) August 11, 2021
Tommy Bowe having a mare 😄 pic.twitter.com/lYUUPPK859
— springbokbabyyy (@springbokbabyyy) August 11, 2021
@MikeBubbins Clip contender?? Tommy Bowe's Alan Partridge moment.😂 pic.twitter.com/88bRRUw6TA
— MeInMadrid (@mytupenceworth) August 12, 2021
The 37-year-old responded to one tweet by saying: “Oh sweet Jesus!!!”
Oh sweet Jesus!!!🤦🏼♂️😬😄
— Tommy Bowe (@TommyBowe) August 11, 2021
Bowe try to amend his misdemeanour by promoting O’Reilly’s acclaimed book Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? and hoped that the writers and his siblings didn’t hate him now.
Hope Seamus and his 10 siblings don’t hate me now 😬😬 Might as well check out his critically acclaimed book “Did ya hear Mammy died” https://t.co/ZGOtHFkeDZ
— Tommy Bowe (@TommyBowe) August 11, 2021
Thankfully it was all good when O’Reilly told him he was grand, but joked that he now had to buy 400 copies of the book, which Bowe seemed up for!
Hahaha, I'd like to assure everyone sending me this that I DID catch this beautiful moment during my interview this morning. I'd also like to reassure Tommy that there are zero hard feelings as my entire family and I think it's absolutely hilarious. https://t.co/GiYxJD7YOq
— The Author, Séamas O'Reilly, retweeting praise (@shockproofbeats) August 11, 2021
Ha will get the credit card out 🤣
— Tommy Bowe (@TommyBowe) August 11, 2021
All’s well that ends well then – but a note to all TV presenters: you never go full Partridge.
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