BBC News presenter Simon McCoy has left viewers amused after some rather unenthusiastic reporting on the World Dog Surfing Championships.
The competition – which, yes, sees dogs trying to stay afloat on a surfboard – has taken place in the US for the second year running.
But as this footage posted on Twitter by fellow BBC journalist Chris Gray shows, McCoy doesn’t seem particularly bothered about seeing canines catch some waves.
.@BBCSimonMcCoy providing all the enthusiasm this story about surfing dogs deserves. pic.twitter.com/FsG8TOj5iF
— Chris Gray (@ChrisGSGray) August 7, 2017
When introducing a report on the event on the BBC News Channel on Monday, McCoy said in a noticeably unimpressed tone: “Bear in mind it is August. This doesn’t look like a walk in the park.
“Dog owners and their pets in California have hit the waves in the second annual World Dog Surfing Championships.”
McCoy continued to unenthusiastically read out details of the championships – including the various prizes on offer – while shots of the competitors played out. Then, as the camera cut back to the studio, he sarcastically added: “That’s a shame, we have run out of pictures.”
The clip has been shared thousands of times and it’s fair to say a lot of people are finding his style of reporting on the subject – and his many sighs – very amusing.
hilarious @BBCSimonMcCoy laughed out loud
— Ben Page, Ipsos MORI (@benatipsosmori) August 7, 2017
This is just excellent, both the story and @BBCSimonMcCoy's reaction have cheered me right up today. https://t.co/EBlysquTYQ
— Mitch Rushton (@MitchRushton1) August 7, 2017
Brilliant. I can imagine every sigh stands for: "This is not news. This is not what I studied for. This is not why I became a journalist" https://t.co/yIBIu1PNDw
— Steven (@Airwaysfoodie) August 7, 2017
There is contempt for the trivialisation of news, and then there is this by the magnificent @BBCSimonMcCoy https://t.co/jiXPi9Agy8
— Robert Peston (@Peston) August 7, 2017
I love @BBCSimonMcCoy This is stellar broadcasting 😂😂 https://t.co/trBFIQKpkY
— Jane White (@JaneMaryWhite) August 7, 2017
McCoy you total legend @BBCSimonMcCoy still can't breath 😂 https://t.co/WDA2AJuyo3
— Giles Dilnot (@reporterboy) August 7, 2017
Others are feeling very much inspired by McCoy’s reaction to the idea of dogs on surfboards.
Haha, from now on I'm not going to hide my hatred for stories when reading news. You're an inspiration @BBCSimonMcCoy https://t.co/ZWSlmRHiMq
— Nathan Lee (@NathanLeeTV) August 7, 2017
Give @BBCSimonMcCoy an award for professionalism under the toughest circumstances. What a hero. https://t.co/BSJVt1EbVU
— Christian Guy (@ChristianGuy_) August 7, 2017
The excellent @BBCSimonMcCoy may well get a BAFTA for this… https://t.co/Po5999IV0z
— Rory Cellan-Jones (@ruskin147) August 7, 2017
A few people echoed McCoy’s sentiment in his report that it is August, after all – known to be a bit of a slow news month.
Simon McCoy trying to summon the enthusiasm to talk about surfing dogs is the most August thing that's ever happened pic.twitter.com/SpS2oAT4Yz
— Alan White (@aljwhite) August 7, 2017