BBC News hit by hilarious blunder as the word 'erections' accidentally airs in unfortunate mirror image during US Midterm Election coverage

BBC News's US Midterm Election coverage got off to an unfortunate start over the weekend when the broadcaster accidentally aired the word 'erection' live on air. The US headed to the polls on Tuesday as Democrats and Republicans battled for control of Congress . It was during a Sunday segment on BBC News leading up to polling day that the hilarious blunder occurred. Anchor Rich Preston was presenting a report but viewers were left distracted by a reflection of the screen next to him reading 'US MIDTERM ELECTIONS '.

Reflected on the polished desk the word 'elections' transformed into 'erections'. The mistake was first spotted by TV critic Scott Bryan, who posted on X: 'BBC errrr… you might want to check the reflection.' BBC News's US Midterm Election coverage got off to an unfortunate start over the weekend when the broadcaster accidentally aired the word 'erection' live on air The blunder prompted a stream of hilarious replies, with one commenting: 'If the reflection lasts more than four hours, call a doctor.'

Another joked: 'You raise an important point,' whilst one more declared 'This is art.' Two days later the blunder was hastily rectified. As the election got underway a handily placed sheaf of papers concealed the reflection. 'I'm sure the papers being there is just a coincidence,' quipped Bryan on X. The results of the midterm elections saw the Democrats seize the House of Representatives and the Senate in a devastating double blow to President Trump that could mark the beginning of the end of the MAGA era.

In what amounted to a political earthquake, the midterm elections saw a series of deep-red states turn blue. In Texas, Democrat newcomer James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, while South Carolina elected a Democratic senator for the first time since 1998. Most remarkably of all, Kansas sent a Democrat to the US Senate, which it had not done since 1932 during the Great Depression. Anchor Rich Preston was presenting a report on the elections but viewers were left distracted by a reflection of the screen reading 'US MIDTERM ELECTIONS The mistake was first spotted by TV critic Scott Bryan, who posted on X: 'BBC errrr… you might want to check the reflection' Two days later the blunder was hastily refectified.

As the election got underway a handily placed sheaf of papers concealed the reflection There were further stunning Democrat Senate victories in Iowa and Ohio, states Trump won by more than ten points in the presidential election in 2024. In one of the most-watched races Democrat Abdul El-Sayed declared victory over Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, making him the first Muslim elected to the Senate. Jubilant Democrats described the results as a 'blue tsunami' or a 'Bluenami'.

Although he was not on the ballot, the midterms were effectively a nationwide referendum on Trump. Voters appeared to have passed a damning judgment on Trump's inability to bring down the cost of living for ordinary Americans, according to exit polls. The results, reflecting a huge shift in Trump's once impressive MAGA base, will also cast a cloud over any ambitions Vice President JD Vance has for a 2028 run. Losing both chambers of Congress will mean Trump entering lame duck territory in his final two years in office.