Viewers were left outraged this morning when they tuned into BBC Breakfast for updates on the Westminster bridge crash.
Dan Walker and Louise Minchin were presenting the show this morning and announced the news almost half an hour after Good Morning Britain and Sky News.
After the BBC reported on the initial news, the presenters then switched back to other stories, rather than conducting rolling coverage.
Viewers took to Twitter to voice their concerns regarding the unfolding, live incident.
One Twitter user wrote: “Sky and ITV reporting on #Westminster meanwhile BBC breakfast interviews a gold medalist and does the weather with a sunny backdrop of sunflowers.”
Another added: “Get your finger out @BBCBreakfast and cover what’s happening in Central London. Are @BBCNews asleep this morning – @SkyNews and even @GMB on @ITV are beating you hands down at the moment.”
Referring to an interview with Olympian Dina Asher-Smith, one viewer wrote: “You ok, @BBC Breakfast? With respect to Dina, is this the topic of the morning?”
“Oh dear @BBCBreakfast, incident outside Parliament happens at about 7.40 and @GMB have been reporting on the spot since then. But it’s now 8.15am and not one mention yet on @BBCBrekafast,” another wrote.
Good Morning Britain on ITV went immediately to the scene of the crash, with senior correspondent Richard Gaisford reporting live from the scene.
Although the cause of the crash and not been confirmed, the ITV news programme continued to roll coverage from the scene, even though the reporter was being used away by police.
Referring to the difference in coverage, a viewer wrote: “Interesting the two approaches of #gmb and #bbcbreakfast Gmb planet coverage, interviewing passers-by, speculation switched up to 11. BBC Breakfast has just acknowledged something has happened but no new yet.”
It was clear viewers were not happy, wanting BBC to increase their report of the Westminster crash.
“@BBCBreakfast Skynews and ITV have cameras and journalists close up. Where are you?” one viewer asked on social media.
Dan and Louise continued to present the BBC news programme, jumping back to coverage as new information was confirmed.
Some audience members were concerned over the relaxed tone.
One wrote on Twitter: ‘What an embarrassment for @SkyNews and @BBCBreakfast no idea of Westminster incident. @GMB beat them to it. If they did, apparently other segments more important.”
“They are only an hour and half behind the rest of the country!! That’s not breaking news.
The BBC news programme continued with their prepared schedule and interviewed Olympian Dina Asher-Smith when other news programmes were broadcasting the coverage.
Although many viewers were commenting over the coverage of the Westminster crash, some audience members were pleased with the gold medal winner’s interview.
One viewer wrote on Twitter: “Loved the @BBCBreakfast interview with @dinaashersmith. Amazing athlete, great role model, particularly how she acknowledges the support she gets from her family, her #coach and the public #teamwork And, she went to @KingsCollegeLon! Class.”
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One.
