[Former Member 237]

Forgive me for being dramatic - but protesting for a news broadcaster to go over one unfortunately timed blooper is insanity at its finest.

I said she should be suspended for a period, not forever, and issue an on air apology. If that’s insanity we really are in the last days of Rome.

To add we had the previous incident where studio staff were on the source monitor in Washington I think, behind a presenter in the newsroom. On that occasion I don’t think anything should have happened apart from a reminder to not do it, as I said at the time. But as the presenter on this occasion crossed a line even inadvertently, to maintain a standard there must be a response in my mind so that it’s clear there is a standard being maintained.

[Spencer]

I feel sorry for Maryam. I bet she’s had an awful day.

Okay, what she did was unprofessional, and I’m not sure I quite believe her explanation. But whilst human beings are employed to present the news, mistakes, cock-ups and bloopers will happen from time to time. We all do things we shouldn’t and later regret, yes, even those clutching their pearls in faux outrage.

She’s not killed anyone, and I refuse to believe anyone who is able to sit through a news bulletin watching all the horrendous things going on in the world can genuinely be upset at the sight of a middle finger. Some people really need to get a grip, and take a look at what’s really important in life.

I always thought Maryam was a bit of a hard-faced ice queen, but I think I’ve warmed to her today. She’s human like the rest of us.

[Stooky Bill]

Considering the governing party of this country has just used a snapshot of this as a meme on social media, I think it's clear that, in the real world (in so far as anybody has noticed or cared), the general response to this has been fairly light-hearted.

I wouldn't be surprised if the BBC haven't asked for that to be taken down. It seems some within the party have as it's not exactly big or clever, and certainly beneath a major political party. 

Thing is these things happen and always have. No one takes them that seriously, and they end up on the Christmas tape and Aunties Bloomers. To say that it shows a decline in standards is just nonsense

[harshy]

Well presenters swear all the time off air but they usually stop their antics before the red light comes on, they might be on tv but they are just human like the rest of us but highly paid :-)

[eyeTV]

I like to think all the BBC News presenters do the countdown with their fingers in the last 10 seconds, Maryam was just the first to get caught

[Rolling News]

I doubt even a 90 year old pensioner would have been genuinely upset or offended by that. Yes it didn’t look good but she’s not the first to be caught out on air and certainly won’t be the last.

[DTV]

Thing is these things happen and always have. No one takes them that seriously, and they end up on the Christmas tape and Aunties Bloomers. To say that it shows a decline in standards is just nonsense

Absolutely. I mean, during the 1970s, Peter Woods famously presented a BBC1 news bulletin so drunk he was slurring his words (and, even if not to that state, that's far from the only occasion that newsreaders have gone drinking before going on air). As for being aware you're in a live studio, even seasoned-pros like Peter Sissons and Sue Lawley were definitely known to have made comments while miced up that wouldn't have gone down well had they been broadcast (e.g., "she's even got new tits").

As for the professionalism of presenters, the years of double-headed presentation are filled with anecdotes of one presenter trying to put the other one off and Jeremy Paxman would deliberately do things like messing up the Newsnight Scotland opt point purely because he didn't agree with it. On the latter, I'd argue that repeatedly undermining colleagues because of your personal views is more serious than being caught once messing around with colleagues during a brief break in your multi-hour high-pressure shift.

[harshy]

Anita McNaught swore live on air as she wasn’t ready I don’t remember any global outcry for her to be fired at the time.

[Steve in Pudsey]

I wouldn't be surprised if the BBC haven't asked for that to be taken down. It seems some within the party have as it's not exactly big or clever, and certainly beneath a major political party. 

Given that one of said political party's then junior ministers made a similar gesture in Downing Street last year and was rewarded with a Damehood, I'm not sure that they would agree!

[Connews]

Lauren Taylor formerly of Al Jazeera presenting the early shift from London today. Excellent!