The 42-year-old BBC host sat in awkward silence as her co-host Stayt, 55, almost called Leonardo Da Vinci “Leonardo DiCaprio” earlier this morning as he told viewers about the auction of the Renaissance painter’s Salvator Mundi.
“A painting believed to be Leonardo DiCa… Leonardo da Vinci’s has been sold in New York for a record $ 400 million, that’s over £300 million,” he announced, correcting himself midway through the gaffe.
Mucnhetty remained silent as her colleague worked to breeze past the almost-blunder, simply turning her head to stare at him, stifling a smirk.
Although Stayt made a gallant effort to soldier on, BBC Breakfast viewers couldn’t help but comment on the amusing moment, with one tweeting: “Lol #CharlieStayt #BBCBreakfast, #LeonardoDiCaprio painting now is he?! Made me laugh though!”
“Naga’s side eye and smile when Charlie almost said DiCaprio instead of da Vinci made me smile this morning,” another added.
“The price for the painting Salvator Mundi, or Saviour of the World, is the highest ever paid for a work of art,” Stayt informed viewers.
The anonymous telephone bidder, who secured the work of art, is thought to be a private buyer and won the 20-minute bidding war to cheers at Christie’s auction room in Manhattan yesterday.
It was previously sold at auction in London in 1958 for just £45, and was thought to have been painted by a follower of the polymath not by the man himself.
The painting could be the last of da Vinci’s works ever to reach auction, as there are only 20 of his works left in existence.
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays at 6am on BBC One.
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