BBC Weatherman Causes Storm over Obscene Gesture on TV

Mr Schafernaker aimed the gesture at Breakfast Show newscasters Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong on the BBC News Channel after they teased him about the accuracy of his weather reports.

Now we will have the weather forecast in a minute and or course it will be 100 per cent accurate and provide all the detail you can possibly want,” said McCoy. “I’ve just seen Tom Schafernaker preparing for it.”

The camera cut to Mr Schafernaker who didn’t immediately realize that he was being broadcast live. He was clearly seen raising his middle finger to Mr McCoy.

He quickly realised his gaffe and tried to disguise the gesture as nothing more than a chin scratch.

The camera quickly cut back to the newsreaders, who quickly dismissed the “mistake” and moved on to another segment.

The video has been watched on Youtube thousands of times around the world.

A BBC spokesperson revealed that seven complaints had been made to them about the incident saying “Tomasz was not aware that he was on air, and whilst the gesture was only shown for a second, it was not acceptable.”

“The News Channel presenter live in the studio acknowledged a mistake had been made, and we apologise for any offence caused.”

31 year old Tomasz Schafernaker is no stranger to on-air controversy. In one broadcast, he referred to Glastonbury as a “muddy shite” rather than a “muddy site.” He has also referred to Devon as “Devil”. On another occasion, he offended some viewers by referring to the Outer Hebrides as “nowheresville.”

In May of 2008, he was seen tearing out his earpiece on air saying “Well I don’t know if I’m on air or not so Gary over to you.”

Earlier this year Mr Schafernaker raised eyebrows at the BBC by posing shirtless for the cover of gay magazine Attitude Active.