BBC Breakfast presenters Charlie Stayt and Susanna Reid after the unedited Christian Bale tape was broadcast

The BBC was plunged into further controversy today after broadcasting an unedited clip of Christian Bale's 'F-word' rant live on the Breakfast show.

At around 6:55 this morning presenters introduced a clip of Christian Bale swearing on the set of a new Terminator film.

However the video was cut short after a few seconds when Bale's swearing was heard live on air.

The broadcast showed a photo of Bale and the tape recording, the first words heard were "You don't f****ing understand".

A shriek was heard in the studio, the tape ended and the programme returned to the two stunned presenters.

Charlie Stayt and Susanna Reid immediately apologised for the incident.

Ms Reid said: "An enormous apology. That was definitely supposed to be edited.

"We are very sorry. You won't hear that again. We do apologise."

Stayt had introduced the clip, saying "people may want to block their ears" expecting the clip to be heavily bleeped.

TV bosses launched an immediate inquiry as viewers rang in to complain about the blunder.

Within minutes internet blogs had picked up on the mistake.

One commentator said: "Christian Bale just said f*** on BBC breakfast. Not sure what was funnier, that or the look on Susanna Reid’s face."

A spokesperson for the BBC said today: "A technical error was to blame - we apologised on air immediately afterwards and another apology was given at the end of the programme. We also pulled a later repeat of the item. We are sorry for any offense caused."

Bale, who played Batman in The Dark Knight, became the subject of international debate this week, after a tape surfaced of him throwing an astonishing tantrum while filming.

During Bale's full tirade lasting just under four minutes Bale he furiously criticised Shane Hurlbut, the director of photography on the movie, for distracting him during a scene. The subsequent rant contained 37 uses of the “F-word,” an average of one every six seconds.

Bale repeatedly dubbed Hurlbut a “p***k”, threatened to attack him, and told executives he would quit the $185m film if his colleague wasn't fired.

A full tape of the incident was posted on the internet on Monday afternoon after apparently being leaked to show-business website TMZ.com, and rapidly went viral.

“I'm going to kick your f***ing ass!” it began, as Bale grew increasingly angry at the hapless Hurlbut's attempt to apologise for accidentally interrupting the scene.

“I want you off the f***ing set, you p****. No... Don't just be sorry. Think, for one f***ing second. What the f*** are you doing?”

Bale, playing the film's hero John Connor, shrugs off attempts by co-star Bryce Dallas Howard and director McG to calm him down during the incident, which was recorded on set at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

“Do you want me to f***ing trash your lights? Do you want me to f***ing trash 'em?” he asks Hurlbut. “Then why are you trashing my scene? You are trashing my scene! You do it one more f***ing time, and I'm not walking on the f***ing set if you're still hired.”

Bale's publicist has declined invitations to comment, or otherwise explain his outburst.

Belfast Telegraph