The appointment of a new leader of the Conservative Party, and thus a new Prime Minister, was understandably a headline-grabbing moment in recent national news, but while it was one of the most significant moments of 2022 so far for the UK, news of Liz Truss‘ new role may not have travelled so well over the pond.
This could not have been more evident than during coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral by an Australian broadcaster.
Around 2,000 guests attended the official State Funeral service at Westminster Abbey yesterday, including world leaders representing nearly 200 countries and territories, 500 foreign dignitaries – such as politicians, civil servants, and some celebrities – and many ordinary members of the public selected for charitable or community works.
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Prime Minister Liz Truss was one of those guests – and she was even invited to read a lesson from the Bible at the service as well.
But when she arrived at the service, she wasn’t exactly identifiable to Australian TV presenters Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw from Nine News, who mistook her for a “minor royal” during their live broadcast of the funeral.
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Australian presenters Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw unable to identify UK PM Liz Truss. pic.twitter.com/uG0eQPqBqN
Overton and Grimshaw were commentating on the proceedings as guests were turning up at Westminster Abbey when Ms Truss arrived with husband Hugh O’Leary, and they were unable to recognise who she was.
A video of the awkward moment has since gone viral on social media, racking up millions of views and thousands of comments from the public entertained by the mishap.
Prime Minister Liz Truss was one of the many famous faces in attendance at the State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II yesterday / Credit: BBC
“Who is this?” Ms Grimshaw asks during the live broadcast, when Mr Overton responds: ” Hard to identify, maybe minor royals, members of the…. I can’t identify them.”
“They look like they could well be local dignitaries, it is hard to see, we are looking at the back of their heads mostly.”
Later on in the live broadcast, which the now-viral clip does not show, the pair apparently realise who the mystery woman is and go on to correct themselves, with Overton telling viewers: “I’m just told that was Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister in the distance that we could see, hopping out of that car.”
Featured Image – BBC
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BBC issues statement after UK forecast shows ‘hurricane force winds’ up to 14,000mph
Daisy Jackson
The BBC has issued a statement after alarming people across the UK with a weather forecast of hurricane force winds and temperatures of up to 400°C.
Mancs woke up this morning stunned to see predicted wind speeds of up to 14,000mph.
The alarming weather report hit the BBC Weather app today while Hurricane Milton batters Florida across the pond.
One person shared on X: “I guess we need to batten down the hatches with 26,898 mph winds today.”
Another asked: “Why isn’t this forecast making the news? 14,712mph wind sounds dangerous to me!! I’m going back to bed.”
But now the BBC has rushed to reassure people not to be ‘alarmed’ at the prospect of the entire island blowing away.
BBC presenter and meteorologist Simon King shared: “Oops, don’t be alarmed by some of our @bbcweather app data this morning.
— Barefoot Spooky Bartender 👣💀🍹 (@barefoottiki) October 10, 2024
“Be assured there won’t be 14408mph winds, hurricane force winds or overnight temperatures of 404°C.
“It is being looked at and hopefully sorted asap.”
BBC Weather shared: “You may have noticed some data issues on our app and website. We are working hard to fix it quickly. Sorry – please bear with us.
“In the meantime here are Thursday’s weather headlines: -Colder, clearer air moving in -Rain and drizzle in south -Blustery showers near east coast”
And national treasure Carol Kirkwood said live on air: “We are having a technical glitch at the moment. It’s showing wind speeds far too fast, in fact, hurricane strength and that is not the case at all.
“Please don’t be alarmed. We are aware of it and on it.”
At the time of writing, the BBC Weather forecast service is still predicting hurricane force winds for the UK. Eek.
BBC issues statement after UK forecast shows ‘hurricane force winds’ up to 14,000mph
Liam Gallagher says Oasis reunion rehearsals have begun after blatant hints at tour support acts
Danny Jones
Liam Gallagher has confirmed that rehearsals for the Oasis reunion are now underway and has been teasing the acts that could be supporting them on the tour.
The incomparable frontman has been very vocal on social media (more so than usual) ever since the talk of their comeback was actually confirmed to be real, though we’ll admit we’re still having to pinch ourselves every few days.
Nevertheless, the Oasis reunion IS happening, the tickets have gone and even a slate of North American dates have now sold out along with an Australian tour set to do exactly the same – though there has been some furore over price differences.
Although the gigs are still a little ways away, practice for summer 2025 has to start sometime and after a fan asked Gallagher a point-blank question online, he had a simple but exciting answer.
The idea of the two actually being back in the same room still feels so surreal but we’re SO glad they are.
After the pair were first snapped posing for the reunion press shots by photographer Simon Emmett, it sounds like the two are not just in each other company but now practising those songs they first played together some 20-30 years ago.
The Britpop icons and legendary rock band also announced a new special collection of the seven-inch Definitely Maybe single pressings to celebrate the 30th anniversary of ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’; there are only 4000 up for grabs and they come in the actual 1996 cigarette-style CD (vinyl) box.
After rehearsals are all said and done, one thing that we still don’t know for sure is who will be supporting Oasis on their reunion tour, but that hasn’t stopped the 52-year-old from having fun with some rather heavy hints.
We don’t know how blatant or serious any of these names are, or if this is just a clever red herring or two, but let’s just say we’d be happy with any of them.
Liam is very much enjoying the usual wind-up and toying with Oasis fans.
As well as Manic Street Preachers and Cast – the lattermost having already supported Liam on his Definitely Maybe anniversary tour – there seems to be a lot of debate around whether a potential Richard Ashcroft support would include the rest of The Verve, who haven’t played together since 2017.
That being said, Blossoms have been heavily linked with the tour since they were the band to break the first reunion teaser at their massive Wythenshawe Park gig; there have also been rumblings of Kasabian, The K’s, New Order, Gene Gallagher’s band Villanelle and many more.
Again, we’ve got nothing concrete yet so you’ll just have to take LG at his word – just do so with a big fistful of salt.
Right, we’ll give you three support slots: who would be your dream warm-up acts for the Oasis reunion?
Emily Sergeant -
20th September 2022 
