Gabby Logan was at a loss to offer an explanation and commentator Steve Cram left doing a lot of filling as a medal ceremony at the European Championships descended into chaos in front of millions of BBC viewers on Saturday night.
The multi-sport event is taking place in Germany, hot on the heels of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and one of the final evenings of competition should have ended on a high note for Team GB as the 4x400m men's relay team stepped up to received their gold medal, after victory on the track earlier on.
Their win was a close and hard fought one, making the gold all the more sweeter for the four members of the team. However, the medal ceremony did not go to plan at all. All three of the teams on the podium, were left looking around wondering what was going on as there was a distinct lack of the National Anthem at the moment it should have been blasting out of the speakers.
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Famous middle distance runner Steve and his colleague in the BBC commentary box were left padding out the live broadcast as nothing happened. They, like the athletes on the podium and athletics fans at home were hoping that it would only be a momentary lapse and God Save The Queen would kick in, however that never happened.
Steve was left willing some of the crowd to start singing but even, though they did, there wasn't enough of them to keep it going as the Team GB runners appeared to see the funny side as they clutched the medals round their necks. Steve ended up passing back to Gabby in the studio, remarking: "Hopefully they'll get their chance with the National Anthem later on tonight," as the event organisers attempted to find a solution to the problem.
Main host Gabby looked totally bemused at what was unfolding in front of her, first commenting: "Talk about milking the moment," before quipping: "Very un-German like, the precision engineering or whatever equipment has failed them there. Bit disappointed there wasn't an Alexa, or a phone, or something they could use."
Gabby, while sounding rather unsure, tried to assure viewers that "ultimately they will have the anthem," adding that it would the footage would probably go on iPlayer.
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