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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Party at the Palace slapped with iPlayer warning over blunder during comic's performance

A disclaimer issued at the start of the BBC's Platinum Party at the Palace coverage on iPlayer has sparked a discussion on social media.

TV critic and broadcaster Scott Bryan took to Twitter on Monday morning to share a screenshot of the "correction now being shown when you play 'The Party at the Palace' on BBC iPlayer".

The correction in question reads: "This programme is subject to a correction. During Doc Brown's performance, the Republic of Ireland flag was inadvertently used instead of the Northern Ireland flag."

However, the only official flag for Northern Ireland is the Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom; there is no official flag that represents only Northern Ireland - something Scott's followers noted after he shared the BBC's correction online.

The Republic of Ireland flag was shown as comedian Doc Brown spoke of his British pride (BBC)

"Awaiting a further iPlayer correction to note that there is no such thing as 'the Northern Ireland flag'," political correspondent Gavan Reilly stated when quote-tweeting Scott's original post.

"Breaking: Northern Ireland waking up to a new flag," one Twitter user sarcastically quipped, while another added: "There is actually no such thing as an official Northern Ireland flag. Will a correction be issued for that?"

A third wrote: "It probably would have been easier to avoid the mistake if Northern Ireland had its own official flag (separate from the Union Jack)"

The correction now appears in iPlayer coverage (Twitter)

One social media user argued that the correction shouldn't distract from the BBC's broadcasting other the last few days, writing: "What’s the betting that the BBC’s critics will focus on this one error, disregarding hours and hours of otherwise brilliant, unifying live and recorded broadcasting over four days?"

Scott agreed, noting how "nobody seemed to have picked up on it when it actually happened".

The BBC issued an apology over the weekend, after social media users picked up on comedian Doc exclaiming he was "proud to be British" as the Irish tricolour flag - usually used to represent the Republic of Ireland - made an appearance on a screen behind him.

The BBC issued an apology for the original flag mix-up (BBC)

"Sport is the leveler, now to the finish, son of an immigrant proud to be British," the comedian told the crowd, as a montage including including an England and Wales football badge, a Scottish flag and the Irish tricolour flag were shown on screen.

Terry Brennan, communications officer of Limerick Council, was one to pick up on the blunder, tweeting: "@BBCOne did you just include the Irish tricolour in a song about being ‘proud to be British’. Laaaddddssss!!!!"

Another social media user added: "Your researchers dropped the ball big time - showing a Republic of Ireland flag rather than a #NorthernIreland flag or equivalent? Really? Extremely poor show."

After the performance on Saturday, a BBC spokesperson said: "The incorrect flag appeared in a brief montage during Doc Brown’s appearance last night. We apologise for the error and the sequence will be edited on iPlayer."

The Mirror has contacted the BBC for further comment regarding the correction.

The BBC's Platinum Party at the Palace was watched on by royals such as Prince Charles and Prince William, with global mega stars such as Diana Ross and Sir Rod Stewart taking to the stage to entertain the crowd and those tuned in at home.

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