Awkward moment BBC pundit caught eating and on phone on live TV at Olympics as fans call him ‘international treasure’
BBC pundit Michael Johnson was caught eating live on air as cameras panned back to the studio.
The former Olympic star and his colleagues were all caught off guard as producers cut back to them after the women’s long jump.
The BBC initially switched to the men’s javelin before going to the studio to get the pundits’ thoughts on Team USA star Tara Davis-Woodhall winning long jump gold.
Presenter Gabby Logan and pundit Denis Lewis were ready to go but the same could not be said for Johnson or his fellow pundit Jessica Ennis-Hill.
Former Olympic gold medalist Ennis-Hill was chilling out with a fan while Johnson enjoyed a bite to eat.
He also had to put his phone on the table before picking up his mic, as did Ennis-Hill.
The pair then exchanged an awkward glance as Logan questioned the trio about Davis-Woodhall’s win.
Ennis-Hill could not stop smiling as Johnson put his game face on and delivered the expertise that have won him a lot of plaudits throughout the Olympics.
Fans have shown the four-time Olympic champion a lot of love, with some describing him as a “legend”.
One viewer said of the American: “Michael Johnson is a sporting and broadcasting legend.
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“He is an international treasure.”
Another added: “The BBC are so lucky to have Michael Johnson as an analyst.”
And a third wrote: “If the BBC published their salaries and Michael Johnson was top no one would mind.”
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Katarina Johnson-Thompson will go for her first Olympic medal as the heptathlon concludes with the 800m (7.25pm).
Toby Roberts has a great chance of a podium finish in the men’s boulder and lead sport climbing final (9.15am).
Jack Carlin could grab a medal in the men’s sprint in the velodrome, too (5pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe go in the artistic swimming, starting with their duet technical routine (6.30pm).
An early start for 10km marathon swimmers Tobias Patrick Robinson and Hector Pardoe (6.30am).
Amber Anning is in the women’s 400m final on the track (7pm) while Yasmin Harper and Grace Reid go in the 3m springboard diving final (2pm).
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
There is a blockbuster men’s football final as Spain take on Thierry Henry’s France at PSG’s Parc des Princes (5pm).
The 4x100m relay finals will be stacked full of the best sprinters in the world – including Americans Sha’carri Richardson and Christian Coleman (6.30pm).
Imane Khelif goes for boxing gold in the 66kg final against Yang Liu of China (9.50pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
The modern pentathlon is the very definition of something different with a superb, eclectic and chaotic collection of event.
The activities include show jumping, fencing, a 200m swim and a laser run, where athletes combine a run with shooting.
STATS MAD
2/54 – The Dutch women’s hockey team have lost just two of their last 54 matches stretching back to December 2022 and are in a sixth straight Olympic final. Can China cause a major shock and deny the Netherlands a fifth gold? Find out at 7pm.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.