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A radio presenter accidentally announced the death of prime minister David Cameron during a news bulletin about David Bowie.

Fiona Winchester was reading the news on Heart FM when she confused the names.

Announcing the death of the legendary musician she said: "David Cameron has died.”

Aware of her mistake she quickly continued: “David Bowie, I mean David Bowie."

Predictably, listeners were quick to pick up on the live gaffe.

Very smooth from the radio news lady. "David Cameron has died, David Bowie, I mean David Bowie" — Stuart (@StuartJOrr) January 11, 2016

News reader just said David Cameron has died instead of David Bowie, dinny worry hen we aw wish it too x — carrieanne (@s0wingseas0n) January 11, 2016

Lassie on Heart FM just read out the news and said 'David Cameron has died' instead of Bowie — Paul Moncur (@paulmoncur) January 11, 2016

Hahahahahaha woman on the radios lit that 'David Cameron has died' — MILLIE (@milliem27) January 11, 2016

Bowie died on Sunday following a secret 18 month battle with cancer.

His son, Duncan Jones, 44, confirmed the news in a tweet this morning.

David Bowie - in pictures 21 show all David Bowie - in pictures 1/21 Loved up David Bowie and his wife Iman at a charity event in 2011 Getty Images 2/21 The early years David Bowie, back when he was Davy Jones Getty Images 3/21 Ziggy Stardust David Bowie performed as his intergalactic alter-ego for the last time at Hammersmith Odeon, 1973 Getty Images 4/21 Station to station David and his first wife Angie Getty Images 5/21 Bright lights David Bowie performing at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2004 Getty Images 6/21 Portrait Bowie at a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, 1983 AFP/Getty Images 7/21 Theatricality Bowie in his 'Angel of Death' costume at The Marquee Club, 1973 Getty Images 8/21 Rock stars David Bowie with Iggy Pop (left) in Germany, 1977 Getty Images 9/21 Mullet man Bowie perfoming in 1987 Getty Images 10/21 Fame David Bowie receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1997 Getty Images 11/21 Wembley David Bowie performing at Wembley Stadium in 1999 Getty Images 12/21 Blondies David Bowie with Debbie Harry at the MEN Arena, 2003 Getty Images 13/21 Icons David Bowie with Kate Moss at an awards party at New York Public Library, 2005 Getty Images 14/21 David Bowie at the CFDA Awards, 2005 Getty Images 15/21 Artists David Bowie with Lou Reed at the Lou Reed NY photography exhibit, 2006 Getty Images 16/21 Red carpet David Bowie and Iman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008 Getty Images 17/21 Angie Bowie, Zowie Bowie (Duncan Jones) and David Bowie (wearing an eyepatch) appear at a press conference at the Amstel Hotel on 7th February 1974 in Amsterdam, Netherlands Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns 18/21 Singer David Bowie with his wife, model and actress Angela Bowie on January 01, 1974 in London Anwar Hussein/Getty Images 19/21 David Bowie in Labrynth 20/21 Duncan Jones and David Bowie at the Tribeca Film Festival, New York, America on 30 April 2009 Rex 21/21 David Bowie pictured to promote his Black Star album 1/21 Loved up David Bowie and his wife Iman at a charity event in 2011 Getty Images 2/21 The early years David Bowie, back when he was Davy Jones Getty Images 3/21 Ziggy Stardust David Bowie performed as his intergalactic alter-ego for the last time at Hammersmith Odeon, 1973 Getty Images 4/21 Station to station David and his first wife Angie Getty Images 5/21 Bright lights David Bowie performing at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2004 Getty Images 6/21 Portrait Bowie at a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, 1983 AFP/Getty Images 7/21 Theatricality Bowie in his 'Angel of Death' costume at The Marquee Club, 1973 Getty Images 8/21 Rock stars David Bowie with Iggy Pop (left) in Germany, 1977 Getty Images 9/21 Mullet man Bowie perfoming in 1987 Getty Images 10/21 Fame David Bowie receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1997 Getty Images 11/21 Wembley David Bowie performing at Wembley Stadium in 1999 Getty Images 12/21 Blondies David Bowie with Debbie Harry at the MEN Arena, 2003 Getty Images 13/21 Icons David Bowie with Kate Moss at an awards party at New York Public Library, 2005 Getty Images 14/21 David Bowie at the CFDA Awards, 2005 Getty Images 15/21 Artists David Bowie with Lou Reed at the Lou Reed NY photography exhibit, 2006 Getty Images 16/21 Red carpet David Bowie and Iman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008 Getty Images 17/21 Angie Bowie, Zowie Bowie (Duncan Jones) and David Bowie (wearing an eyepatch) appear at a press conference at the Amstel Hotel on 7th February 1974 in Amsterdam, Netherlands Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns 18/21 Singer David Bowie with his wife, model and actress Angela Bowie on January 01, 1974 in London Anwar Hussein/Getty Images 19/21 David Bowie in Labrynth 20/21 Duncan Jones and David Bowie at the Tribeca Film Festival, New York, America on 30 April 2009 Rex 21/21 David Bowie pictured to promote his Black Star album

Alongside a black and white image of himself sitting on his father’s shoulders he wrote: “Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all.”

A post was also shared on the singer's official Facebook page which read: “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.

“While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief.”

Tributes soon came flooding in from fans, actors, musicians and politicians - including Cameron.

He posted: “I grew up listening to and watching the pop genius David Bowie. He was a master of re-invention, who kept getting it right. A huge loss.”

A Celebrity Big Brother spokesperson also confirmed that Bowie's ex-wife Angie Bowie will be informed "off camera" of the news at the "earliest opportunity".