Dan Walker, 43, and his co-host Naga Munchetty, 45, were joined on today’s edition of BBC Breakfast by Matt Hancock, 41, to discuss the latest headlines from the political sphere. With Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, 22, leading the news agenda today after the government made a U-turn on free school meals for school children in light of his campaign, the Health Secretary was grilled about the action taken. However, towards the end of the interview, the BBC news host left the politician rather embarrassed as he asked him about an error he had made in a previous television appearance where he called the footballer by a completely different name.
It was previously in doubt whether a £12 million voucher scheme would be given the go-ahead to provide millions of school children with free school meals over the summers as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Rashford was poignant in seeing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 55, give the green light to the scheme and Hancock has been questioned all morning on the government’s U-turn.
Speaking on Sky News this morning, the Health Secretary said the decision came after “Daniel Rashford” had a one-to-one conversation with the Conservative leader on the phone.
The politician was quickly called out by viewers on his error, with Walker giving the platform for him to explain what happened at the end of their interview.
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The presenter said: “Before I let you go, I know your job is a difficult one to come on this morning and to do all these live interviews.
“I’m sure you’re aware already Daniel Rashford is trending on social media because you called Marcus…” Walker tried to continue as Hancock burst into nervous laughter.
“Do you want to try and explain yourself because I think you’re probably going to have to talk about this at some stage,” the host added.
“I can’t. Of course, I know he’s called Marcus Rashford,” the politician explained as Walker laughed off the embarrassing gaffe.
“I think he’s getting a bit of grief for it, but it is early,” Walker said, defending the Health Secretary over his error.
Munchetty added: “The amount of grief, I know you do, I do, for getting people’s name wrong. He will absolutely slapping himself on the head.”
The host told his colleague she even got someone’s name wrong earlier on in the show, to which she admitted she does it “all the time”.
“You kick yourself, but then in that position, it’s all for the world to see,” the BBC presenter remarked.
Former football and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, 59, has already taken to social media to call out the politician.
In view of his 7.5 million followers, he wrote in response to Hancock’s Sky interview: “Morning Daniel!
“Good to see Matt Hancock finally giving credit to footballers and Daniel Rashford in particular,” he added.
Rashford replied to the television personality: “I’ve been called much worse over the last couple of days.”
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays at 6am on BBC One.
