Discussion about testing babies for milk allergies descends into farce as exuberant child scales heights of ITV newsdesk

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A discussion on milk allergies went off script during an ITV news broadcast when a little girl started walking round newsreader Alastair Stewart’s desk before climbing on to it.

BBC interview hijacked by children prompts social media debate Read more

Stewart was conducting an interview with Lucy Wronka and her two children, Iris and George, when Iris decided she could be still no more. Seeing the toddler ambling about the studio, Stewart remarked: “[She] will do whatever she chooses to do for the next couple of minutes,” before continuing the interview with her brother, George.

George told the newsreader about his experiences while his sister scaled the heights of the news desk during the network’s lunchtime bulletin. She then found her head creeping into shot as her mother, trying to keep a straight face, discussed new guidelines surrounding testing babies for milk allergies.

Finishing the segment, with Iris now on all fours over his papers, he joked: “Mary Nightingale, I think, will have a more peaceful time at 6.30. From all of us, a very good afternoon to you.”

Viewers later expressed their joy at the scene on Twitter. One viewer tweeted

Julia SlingsbyBreach (@SlingsbyBreachJ) Tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks! Feel ITV 1 +1 coming on!!

Paul Brand, ITV News’s political correspondent, tweeted:

Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) TODDLER TAKEOVER! Best lunchtime news ever. Well done @alstewitn for holding fort! pic.twitter.com/w4pAmnVtN7

ITV News’s royal editor, Chris Ship, tweeted:

Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) What happens when mum comes into the studio with the kids. Live on @itvnews. Top work by @alstewitn pic.twitter.com/v8q8InVbTT

The BBC’s Nick Robinson recounted his own studio experience

Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) Nice. One of my kids licked the desk when they came in

BBC News correspondent Ross Hawkins wrote: “Tremendous chaos - @alstewitn being thoroughly upstaged by kids in his studio.”