BBC apologises for 'inappropriate comment' as D-Day coverage taken off iPlayer (2024)

The BBC has apologised after an ‘inappropriate comment’ was broadcasted during this year’s D-Day coverage.

Kirsty Young was speaking during BBC D-Day 80: Tribute to the Fallen when the comment was aired.

The presenter introduced a military band performing at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Bayeux, and as the broadcast transitioned an unidentified off-camera voice can be heard.

After informing viewers PetrocTrelawny will be on the red button, the broadcast seemingly failed to cut and a voice can be heard in behind the scenes saying: ‘French a***holes.’

The BBC have now apologised, and a spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘We sincerely apologise for an inappropriate comment that was captured during live coverage of the D-Day at 80 event in Bayeux.

‘The programme is being edited and is temporarily unavailable on BBC iPlayer.’

On June 6, 80 years ago, tens of thousands of allied soldiers waded through the sea anddropped from the sky at Normandy, beginning the process of liberating Western Europe from the Nazis.

Broadcasters, politicians and military veterans from around the world have gathered in France to remember the date.

It is estimated that4,000 Allied troops lost their livesduring the D-Day invasion, while thousands more were wounded or reported missing after the attack.

Of the 150,000 troops who took part in the landings, only around 1% of them are still thought to be alive, with around 150 veterans in attendance at the 80th anniversary celebrations.

Earlier today it was reported that a World War II veteran had died hours before attending the event.

Robert ‘Al’ Persichitti, aged 102, was travelling with a group of other veterans to attend a ceremony inFrancewhen he fell ill on board a ship in the North Sea.

Although he was rushed to hospital inGermanyby helicopter, he died shortly after.

Today, King Charles gave a speech calling on the remembrance of the sacrifices made by British soldiers and the people of France who suffered under Nazi occupation.

He said we ‘must stand together to oppose tyranny’, adding: ‘It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time.’

Addressing the crowd , Charles said: ‘The stories of courage, resilience and solidarity we have heard today and throughout our lives cannot fail to move us, to inspire us and to remind us of what we owe to that great wartime generation.

‘It is our privilege to hear that testimony, but our role is not purely passive.

‘It is our duty to ensure that we and future generations do not forget their service and their sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom.’

Camilla was overcome with emotion yesterday as a veteran recounted the horror of losing his best friend.

Royal Navy servicemanEricBateman, 98, said: ‘I’m lucky to be here 80 years later with two of my great-grandchildren.

‘So many men and women, including my dear friend Fred, joined up with me but unfortunately never made it.

‘I’m proud to be here today to all of them and to make sure they will always be remembered.’

The term D-Day is used by the Armed Forces to refer to the beginning of an operation.

The ‘D’ itself actually stands for ‘Day’, meaning it’s short for ‘Day-Day’– as it connotes the first day in a major military operation.

D-Day was the start of ‘Operation Overlord’, which was the official codename for the Battle of Normandy,

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