After incorrectly correcting host Alex Jones, comedian Frank Skinner dragged The One Show into an extremely embarrassing period of misunderstanding over the Queen.
The West Bromwich comic, 66, joined other guests Clare Balding and Coleen Rooney on Monday’s show to discuss his current UK tour.
However, as Alex and co-host Jermaine Jenas were winding off a section on the BBC’s 500 Words for Children initiative, Frank jumped in to provide what he evidently believed was a helpful correction.
Except he was mistaken – cue a succession of silently terrified and painful seconds as Jermaine became engrossed in Frank’s remark.
Alex said to camera: ‘Some 50 finalists will go the palace next year and might even meet Her Majesty, the Queen.’
‘We’re having a day out at the palace, aren’t we? Can’t wait,’ she added.
As the broadcast cut to a wide angle shot of the studio, Frank then interjected: ‘They won’t meet Her Majesty, the Queen.’
Jermaine, who had been seen looking momentarily confused, then responded: ‘Yeah, I think we got that bit slightly wrong, didn’t we? His Majesty, who they might meet, yes.’
Both were evidently thinking about King Charles, as Frank was seen nodding.
However, Alex doubled down with, ‘Yeah – the Queen,’ which she repeated a few times.
Jermaine then discovered Alex was referring to Camilla, not the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96.
Camilla has been known as ‘Queen Camilla’ (or simply ‘the Queen’) since their joint coronation in May, albeit her function remains that of a consort, who does not technically share the monarch’s powers.
‘Sorry no, the Queen Consort!’ he corrected himself.
‘It’s not my business – just trying to be helpful,’ quipped Frank as nervous laughter could be heard in the studio, including from Alex and then Jermaine.
‘We’re alright,’ confirmed Alex, as Jermaine admitted: ‘It threw me off as well!’
Former footballer-turned-pundit Jermaine then attempted to steer the programme back on track with an awkward transition.
‘Anyway, Coleen, you’ve got four sons, right?’ he asked, before asking if they had any interest in creative writing, as per the competition.
Coleen confessed on the show that now that the high-profile defamation court case against Rebekah Vardy has been concluded, she has been able to be ‘present again’ with her family.
Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha incident, a three-part docuseries on Disney Plus, features the 37-year-old mother of four recounting her side of the incident.
‘It was so stressful, I feel like a massive cloud’s been lifted now. And even though I was there physically looking after the children, mentally I just wasn’t.
‘So now I just feel so grateful to be present again and to be there with the kids, both physically and mentally.’
The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story releases on Wednesday, October 18 on Disney Plus.
