BBC Breakfast’s Charlie Stayt was forced to pause an interview with Tory MP Tom Tugendhat over the escalating crisis in Ukraine, as the politician’s daughter sweetly interrupted.
Mr Tugendhat was calling into the BBC morning programme from his home on Thursday’s edition of the programme to discuss the President Vladimir Putin ’s military operation in Ukraine launched early this morning.
Boris Johnson has delivered a rare national address after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with explosions heard across major cities.
Moments before Mr Tugendhat’s daughter appeared, he said to BBC Breakfast’s Charlie: “We need to make sure that this is what it is, which is a reflection of an act of war, of a militarised state and the first invasion of a European country since 1939.”
The 59-year-old presenter replied: “But Mr Tugendhat, you'll be very well aware that if the sanctions -”
He then interrupted himself as the discussion took an unexpected turn when Mr Tugendhat’s daughter appeared from behind the politician in his home and began tapping him on the shoulder.
The MP put his finger to his lips in a shushing gesture as he looked at his daughter, whose voice was then heard in the background.
Charlie then said: “I'm sorry, you've got an interruption there, are you okay? Are you okay to carry on?”
The politician was then seen whispering to his daughter as his head flicked back and forth between his little one and the BBC Breakfast presenter.
Mr Tugendhat then replied: “I am, yes. Sorry, go on, go on.”
BBC Breakfast viewers took to Twitter to gush over the adorable moment, with one writing: “Tom Tugendhat showed nothing but a smile and a loving look to his interrupting daughter who was blissfully unaware he was live on telly”
Adding: “Can’t imagine a Russian politician surviving the same experience. Reminds us all of the freedoms we enjoy.”
Another wrote: “Something rather poignant about Tom Tugendhat’s BBC Breakfast interview on Ukraine being interrupted by his daughter as he talks about the tragedy of families fleeing the places they love.”
This comes as Boris Johnson addressed the nation on the frightening situation in Ukraine, saying that the Putin regime would be condemned to "pariah status" after unleashing a "tidal wave of violence" against Ukraine.
"Diplomatically, politically, economically – and eventually, militarily – this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure," the PM said.
He added: "I don’t believe that the Russian dictator will ever subdue the national feeling of the Ukrainians and their passionate belief that their country should be free and I say to the British people."
