A BBC News presenter’s reporting of a story on surfing dogs has gone viral for his unenthusiastic delivery.
It seemed like Simon McCoy could not muster the least bit of interest in the segment focused on a dog surfing contest in California.
“Now, you’re watching BBC News, just bear in mind it is August,” McCoy began the report.
he LOVES surfing dogs. pic.twitter.com/fcSstnqHbs
— BBC Three (@bbcthree) August 7, 2017
“This does not 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,” he said, sounding bored already.
“Here are the pictures.”
McCoy’s dry delivery of the story took on a life of its own as his apparent lack of interest in the subject became more entertaining than the news he was reporting.
Footage of surfing pooches played as McCoy’s voice deadpanned the narrative. An audible sigh could even be heard as he didn’t even try to conceal his disdain.
“The competitors’ challenge is to stay afloat on the board,” he said. “This is in Pacifica near San Francisco but there are also prizes for the best dressed and tandem surfing dogs; the winner of course being crowned top dog.”
The anchor, who reported from the front lines during the 2003 Iraq invasion, seemed to be silently questioning his career.
As the camera returned to a straight-faced McCoy, he offered a sarcastic conclusion to the segment.
“That’s a shame,” he said. “We’ve run out of pictures.”
Fellow BBC journalist Chris Gray first posted the video, which has garnered over 17,000 likes and been re-tweeted over 9,000 times.
.@BBCSimonMcCoy providing all the enthusiasm this story about surfing dogs deserves. pic.twitter.com/FsG8TOj5iF
— Chris Gray (@ChrisGSGray) August 7, 2017
Glenn Beck declared McCoy was his hero in a tweet saluting the anchor, which McCoy then re-tweeted on his own account.
@BBCSimonMcCoy YOU ARE MY HERO! This is the greatest news presentation I have ever seen. https://t.co/le2YMa7t1D
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) August 8, 2017
McCoy continued his hilarious tone in responses to other tweets like the one from his BBC colleague, Robert Rea.
You’re going to do this every time I have some cute animal footage for you now, aren’t you?
— Robert Rea (@robertrea) August 7, 2017
Yes. I am. Deal with it.
— Simon McCoy (@BBCSimonMcCoy) August 7, 2017
Is he free for #Eurovision2018 ?
— Ian McHugh (@greentriangleuk) August 7, 2017
Yes he is!!!
— Simon McCoy (@BBCSimonMcCoy) August 7, 2017
Wake up right! Receive our free morning news blast HERE
.@BBCSimonMcCoy is one of the most straightforward journalists I know. This is just another great example of why. https://t.co/4PAEPLKh6R
— Rajini Vaidyanathan (@BBCRajiniV) 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
? @BBCSimonMcCoy is a national treasure https://t.co/gisN1Z5t8U
— Julia Macfarlane?? (@juliamacfarlane) August 7, 2017
“Those are the headlines. God, I wish they weren’t”
— Steve Martin (@smartin) August 7, 2017
I came for the surfing dogs, stayed for the existential despair. https://t.co/0SegHzDvOT
— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) August 7, 2017
I enjoy both surfing dogs and watching a man’s spirit being brutally crushed before your eyes so this is great content https://t.co/2iC6MeKaWn
— Tom Phillips (@flashboy) August 7, 2017
Well done to @BBCSimonMcCoy for treating show-off dogs with the contempt that they deserve: https://t.co/PJ12RO1Gg1
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) August 7, 2017
I must have watched that more than a dozen times already … and I’m still honking out loud in a MOST unladylike manner …
— Moira Briggs (@MoiraBriggs) August 8, 2017
To my relatively short list of journalist heroes, I’m now adding Simon McCoy. https://t.co/oGkxt13mG6
— mark little (@marklittlenews) August 8, 2017
The cultural divide between the UK and US handily rounded up, with images
— Fran Wyld (@fran_corchamps) August 8, 2017
Not only am I American, I live in California, and you gave me a wonderful laugh. I wish our newsreaders were so honest about crap stories!
— Joey H. (@ZenMonkey) August 7, 2017
Simon could you just do the news all the time? I think it could work!
— Louise Kearney (@squeegiluigi) August 7, 2017
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Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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